Off Hours Bourbon - Review

Stats

Off Hours

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

NAS

Produced for Off Hours Spirits by MGP Distillery, IN

95 Proof

Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $50

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Gold

Nose: Malted Barley, Corn, Light Oak and subtle hints of Leather and Tobacco.

Palate: Corn up front which paves the path to Vanilla, Honey, Pralines and Cinnamon.

Finish: Medium linger with a nice warm rye spice.

Overall: A huge thank you to Off Hours for providing this bottle to review. From the get-go, I anticipated a very young MGP profile based on the color and the nose. I was a bit surprised once I started sipping when more and more flavors started hitting the palate. The honey was a very nice compliment to the corn on the nose. Although there is no age statement, the bourbon tastes a bit young, but in no way is that a negative. The lighter tones help to push forth vanilla, and later, the pralines and cinnamon. The medium linger on the finish created a nice warm coating and even after the swallow, the flavors were evident. I'd love to see this distributed locally.

Library Rating: 8.0 / 10

A. Smith Bowman 10 Year Cask Strength - Review

Stats

A. Smith Bowman

Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey

10 Years Old

Produced by A. Smith Bowman Distillery - Fredericksburg, Virginia

141.1 Proof

Mash Bill: Undisclosed

Small Batch - Batch 1

Retail Price: $100

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Creaminess, Green Apple, Nectarines, Cinnamon, Brown Sugar and Charred Oak

Palate: Viscous and sweetness upfront. Tons of Vanilla and Brown Sugar with hints of Apple Pie and Caramel.

Finish: Extra long finish with a warm oily coating.

Overall: This bottle was provided by Sazerac and for that I'm grateful. In no way did this gift persuade my opinion or my review. I keep things real in the Library and let me tell you, this Cask Strength is the real deal. I know the accessibility of this bottle is not ideal, but if there is a chance to try it in a bar or at a friend's house, I strongly recommend it. I was expecting a high volume of heat before popping the cork. At 141.1 Proof, who wouldn't? Almost zero ethanol on the nose and that lead to a fully complex palate witch is when it started getting warm. Not hot. The warm hug stays with you throughout the entire tasting. A coating that is very much welcomed because after, comes even more flavors. When the warmth starts to fade, the true and typical bourbon flavors start to shine even more. It honestly created an exceptional experience.

Library Rating: 9.4 / 10

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey - Review

Stats

Pikesville

Straight Ry Whiskey

At Least 6 Years Old

Heaven Hill Distillery - Distilled & Bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky

110 Proof

Mash Bill: 51% Rye / 39% Corn / 10% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $50

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Caramel apples, allspice, nutmeg and oak

Palate: Vanilla, cherries (reminds me of a Cherry Vanilla Coke), some cinnamon and pepper spice.

Finish: Medium linger with a warm coating

Overall: Believe it or not, this is my first time diving into Pikesville. I've had it on my shelf for far too long and today was the day. Based on my fandom of Heaven Hill, I had no doubts this would be a solid pour. I wasn't expecting the flavors I picked up though. The heavy cherry influence is very welcomed and very much enjoyed. The finish is a perfect warm hug that sticks around for just the right amount of time.

Library Rating: 8.2 / 10