Whisk(e)y

A precious Willett from the summer of 2022.
The Willett Distilling Company or Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, as it is also known, is a small, family-owned company that produces labels such as Willett Pot Still Reserve, Willett Family Estate, Johnny Drum, Old Bardstown, Noah’s Mill, Rowan’s Creek, Pure Kentucky and Kentucky Vintage.

Kentucky Owl Bourbon was founded in 1879 by C.M. Dedman on the banks of the Kentucky River. The distillery produced “The Wise Man’s Bourbon” for decades until its long and storied history was interrupted by Prohibition. Fortunately, the Kentucky Owl brand was relaunched with Batch #1 in 2014.

Released in March 2022, this is one of four extended cask finished bourbons in the second batch of Barton 1792 Distillery's Thomas S. Moore line-up. Each of the four releases are made with the distillery's high-rye bourbon recipes which is aged 5-6 years.

This bourbon is described as having an aroma explosion of sweet, rich fruit and toasted nuts, followed by figs, hints of spicy tobacco and subtle cedar. The palate is sweet with a soft, round initial impression followed by a myriad of aged fruits and nuts. the finish is balanced and sweet with notes of spicy oak. This whiskey was finished in Oloroso sherry casks for approximately one to four years.

A product exclusively made in the Madeira region of Portugal, Madeira wine ranges from dry to sweet and can resemble a tawny port. It’s a very specific type of wine, and as a result there are far less Madeira finished bourbons versus other wine finished bourbons being produced.

This bourbon carries an aroma of rich fresh fruit, including plums, raspberries, and dark cherries followed by floral notes. It has a full and slightly soft taste, with long and lasting notes of fruit. The finish is long and savory with subtle tannins and toasted oak. This whiskey was finished in merlot casks from Napa and Sonoma for approximately two to four years.

Finished with proprietary American oak staves to amplify the flavors that Maker’s develops while spending time in the upper parts of the rackhouse, where temperatures are hotter. Notes of caramelized barrel accented with some toastiness and a warm finish.

Finished with proprietary French oak staves to amplify the flavors that Maker’s develops while spending time in the lower parts of the rackhouse, where temperatures are cooler. Notes of fruit, nut and chocolate.

In celebration of the spirit of Mardi Gras and the pride of Louisiana, this expression of Kentucky Owl Straight Rye Whiskey has been gently aged for 11 years before sleeping a further year in a selection of rare Bayou XO casks to create and mature into Rye Whiskey of outstanding quality and flavor.

Handpicked and bottled one exceptional barrel at a time, this special release is bourbon to be savored. Delivering nuanced variations from the ageing process. For the refined bourbon palate, no two barrels are quite the same. Expect distinct, full-bodied flavor in the celebrated tradition of Weller's wheated bourbon.

Non-chill filtered and bottled at a 114.2 proof, the 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch features a 16-year-old Bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 14-year-old OBSQ, a 12-year-old OESK, and a 16-year-old OESV.

This 2022 Master’s Collection was made with newly-distilled whiskey that went into the barrel at 100 proof. The barrel entry proof of “new make” plays an important role in the maturation process, and the standard for barrel entry proof has changed over the past two centuries.

Straight Rye Whiskey has experienced a strong resurgence in the American whiskey landscape, yet Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. was making this style more than 100 years ago.

The limited edition Angels Envy Single Barrel has been hand selected by the Virginia ABC and bottled at 110 proof. Angel’s Envy blends Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey between 4-6 years old prior to finishing in a Ruby Port Barrel for another 3-6 months.

Woodford Reserve Distillery (Versailles, KY) has announced the release of its 2023 “Batch Proof”. Tipping the scales at 124.7 proof (62.35% ABV), it uses Woodford’s standard mash bill with direct barrel to bottle entry. The flagship brand proof being 90.4 proof, this is a sizable increase of nearly 40%.