George Dickel & Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend - Review

Stats

George Dickel Column Still

Leopold Bros Three Chamber

A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

Inaugural Release

NAS - Aged 4+ Years

Distilled by Cascade Hollow - Tullahoma, TN

Distilled by Leopold Bros - Denver, CO

100 Proof

Mash Bill: Undisclosed / Blended

Retail Price: $110

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Floral, Chocolate and Dark Fruits

Palate: Ripe Plum, Dark Cherry and Dark Chocolate

Finish: Easy Cinnamon Spice with a Warm Medium Linger

Overall: First off, open your mind. Being a fan of both Dickel and Leopold Bros may create a small bias, but I decided to put aside everything I wanted to think about this collaboration and just dive right in! Bring the glass to your nose and take a nice whiff. A light floral scent mixed with very inviting aromas of chocolate and dark fruits really set the tone of whats to come with this Rye blend. With the nose setting the tone, the palate sets the mood. At 100 Proof, the perfect amount of warmth is there with the taste of dark fruits and more chocolate. This all may sound sweet, but in actuality, its quite balanced. Not super complex by any means, but well balanced.The finish leaves you smacking you gums and searching for more flavors that seem to dance around the back end of the palate. If this is the inaugural release, I'm very excited to try whats to come in the future.

Library Rating: 8.1 / 10

S.N. Pike's Magnolia Barrel Proof Bourbon - Review

Stats

S.N. Pike's Magnolia

Very Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey

5 Barrel Small Batch - Batch 1

Aged 4+ Years

Noble Cut Distillery - Gahanna, Ohio

Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana

125.12 Proof / Non-Chill Filtered

Mash Bill: 51% Corn, 45% Wheat, 4% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $65

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Light Amber

Nose: Sweet Cream, Corn Flakes, Vanilla and Brown Sugar

Palate: Warm Bread Pudding, Cinnamon, Brown Sugar

Finish: Long Lingering Coating with a BIG hug.

Overall: Much like the review I posted back in July 2021 for the 94 Proof of this same mash, I'm completely on board this Wheat-train. The added proof adds to the already delicious flavors of vanilla and brown sugar. The warmth may be a little overpowering upon the first sip, but don't worry, it quickly becomes a great experience from the tip of your tongue to the back of your throat. To me, this is a complete package. Nose, Taste, Finish and Proof. Well done, Magnolia and thank you for the opportunity to try this and give my thoughts.

Library Rating: 8.3 / 10

Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Pauillac Barriques - Review

Stats

Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Finished in Pauillac Barrels

Aged 5 Years (Finished for up to 9 Months)

Distilled, Aged & Bottled by Kentucky Artisan Distillery

Crestwood, Kentucky

92.6 Proof

Mash Bill: 100% Rye (10% Malted Rye)

Retail Price: $80

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Dark Honey / Amber

Nose: Black and White Pepper, Slight Anise, Dark Cherry and Ripe Plum

Palate: BOLD! Cherry, Plum, Roasted Almonds and a beautiful Pepper Spice

Finish: Long Warm Linger with a Spicy Coating

Overall: This is much more than just a fancy bottle. And I'll tell you, the bottle really does stand out. From the first whiff, I knew this was going to be something I really enjoyed. My love for wine and whiskey come full circle with this particular offering. I also think this is the perfect time of year to try this for the first time. A warming sensation and the almost immediate response to lick your lips has me reaching for another sip. I'm looking forward to finding other Coalition Barrel Finishes to try.

I'd like to thank the folks at Coalition for giving me the opportunity to try this and provide my unbiased feedback.

Library Rating: 8.5 / 10