Blue Note Crossroads - Review

Stats

Blue Note - Crossroads

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished with Toasted French Oak

NAS (No Age Statement) ~4 Years

MGP Sourced

Produced & Bottled by B.R. Distilling - Memphis, Tennessee

100 Proof

Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley

Retail Price: ~$40

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Corn Flakes, Vanilla, Caramel Oak and a hint of Leather

Palate: Vanilla Bean, Custard, Honey, and Torched Sugar with a slight touch of Cinnamon

Finish: Medium Linger with a very mild burn. Viscous and coats the throat.

Overall: Just when you think Blue Note is ready to live on all the praise from their Juke Joint Uncut, they drop a bomb like this. I have a great appreciation for most Toasted Barrel finishes and this is absolutely no exception. The Nose gets you thinking and wondering exactly what's in store. Being this product is sourced from MGP, leather always seems to show its presence with my senses, albeit, it is very faint. At only around 4 years in age, the oak really makes itself known as well. The palate reminds me of the top crust of a well torched Creme Brûlée with that perfect sweetness and little dash of Cinnamon. Add just a drop of honey and now you have a dessert in a glass with the right amount of heat and viscosity on the finish. This is set to retail around $40. I will be snatching some up to keep in the Library, thats for certain.

This sample was provided by Blue Note for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. As always, that's what I share. Cheers and Thank You!

Library Rating: 8.4 / 10

Walker's Cay - Review

Stats

Walker's Cay - Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Finished with Sherry Cask Staves

Small Batch

NAS (No Age Statement)

King Spirits - Owensboro, KY

90 Proof

Mash Bill: 70% Kentucky Corn, 21% Winter Rye, 9% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $37

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Gold

Nose: Corn and Malt upfront. Pushes way to Vanilla and Fresh Cut Fig

Palate: Multi-Grain Toast, Vanilla Bean and Whoppers

Finish: Warm, Medium Linger with a delicate Rye Spice

Overall: Quite enjoyable. I can smell and taste a bit of youth on the front, but the overall experience catches up very nicely. Once the vanilla and cocoa started shining through on the palate, my tastebuds were very intrigued. The cocoa and malt makes me think Whoppers candy right away and that sticks around on the backend. The finish really surprised me being this is a 90 proof. The linger is warm and delicious with just the right amount of rye spice to influence another pour.

This sample was provided by King Spirits for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. As always, that's what I share. Cheers and Thank You!

Library Rating: 8.0 / 10

Blue Run Golden Rye - Review

Stats

Blue Run - Golden Rye

Batch: Fall

NAS (No Age Statement)

Blue Run Spirits

Sourced from: N/A

95 Proof

Mash Bill: Undisclosed

Retail Price: N/A

Poured Neat in a Stölzle Lausitz Glass

Color: Gold / Light Amber

Nose: Ripe Pear, Crème de Menthe, Fennel / Anise

Palate: Caramel, Honeysuckle, White Pepper Spice, Mint Leaf

Finish: Warm and Lasting. A welcomed Pepper Spice.

Overall: The nose really set the tone for this pour. I had to sit with this for a few minutes and try to pinpoint the flavors I was inhaling. Each time something lit the bulb in my head, a new flavor found its way to the party. The palate followed suit with the nose in a way that still kept me on my toes. The collection and combination of flavors really work well throughout the entire pour. The finish is warm, even for a 95 proofer. A slight touch of pepper on the end makes you take a step back and grab another sip to make sure your tastebuds weren't lying to you.

Well rounded and packed with flavor. Well done, Blue Run. Well Done.

This sample was provided by Blue Run Spirits for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. As always, that's what I share. Cheers and Thank You, Mike and Team!

Library Rating: 8.7 / 10