Angel's Envy Cask Strength Review

Angel's Envy Cask Strength (Merry Christmas!)

This year's Angel's Envy Cask Strength distribution was limited to 1,500 bottles according to the official Angel's Envy site. This version of the bourbon has had plenty of praise heaped upon it, so when I happened to be in a store on the day it arrived, I figured it was worth the gamble (albeit an expensive gamble $150 + tax). I was a bit hesitant to give this a go considering I'm not a huge fan of their standard bourbon offering, but the Angel's Envy Rye made me give this brand another look. It comes in one of the coolest packages I have seen for a whiskey under $200... this was both enticing and discouraging. Enticing because the wood casing is decidedly impressive and discouraging because I'm typically wary of overly-elaborate packaging (I'd prefer to buy the steak, not the sizzle). No more rambling... on to the notes.

Angel's Envy Cask Strength 2013 - Tasting Notes

Angel's Envy Cask Strength descriptions,
tasting notes, and an invitation to a
special event accompany the bottle.
A very nice presentation

Nose: Initially sweet with some vanilla and alcohol from the high proof. Give it a minute and this guy settles in. The Port finish is present as there is a presence of sweet, red wine with toffee and chocolate. Some good complexity here as I'm also picking up spice and very faint wood. After revisiting I even get a hint of red licorice (think Twizzlers strawberry twists). Let this one sit for a bit and you'll be rewarded.

Palate: Chocolate, vanilla, and sweet candy (something I can't quite put my finger on, but in a good way) come in at the front, followed by a noticeable presence of oak. A little bit of burn, but not as much as you'd expect from something over 120 proof.

Finish: Plenty of heat and spice on the finish, though a little water will help tame the heat if it's not your thing. The spicy heat lingers for a good 60 seconds and is followed by some of the port and sweet flavors from the nose and palate.

Proof: 123 (61.5% ABV)
Price: $150


Well, mixed emotions here. On the surface the tasting notes above make for a great pour, but the price point is much more difficult to swallow. I have trouble spending this much on any bottle in general and while I think it's very good, I likely wouldn't buy it again at this price. The casing is pretty cool, but I'm buying the steak for how it tastes, not the plate it's served on. However, if the pricing was around $100 I might pull the trigger annually and I likely would have graded this in the low 9s, rather than mid-8s. With all of that being said, if you are a fan of their bourbon, you should give the Angel's Envy Cask Strength a try as I found it much more enjoyable than the standard offering.

Angel's Envy Cask Strength Rating: 8.4/10

Review: Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon

You'll have a hard time finding a better priced single-barrel whiskey with or without an age statement. The fact that Eagle Rare (produced by Buffalo trace) continues to offer a readily available single-barrel product with a 10-year age statement is pretty impressive. Unfortunately the bottle doesn't offer any information regarding which barrel or warehouse the product came from. So if you find a bottle you love and want to get as many as you can from that barrel or area of the warehouse you're out of luck.

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon - Tasting Notes

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon

Nose: A little sweet and musty. Initially a lot of smoke and leather but as it opens up there is a strong presence of orange that makes this quite enjoyable.

Palate: First sip comes across very sweet and oily, highlighting the orange on the palate. A couple more sips show some depth though - oak, leather, even a hint of pine. Many reviews call out cocoa or caramel but I am not getting much of this (could be barrel variation, could be my awful palate). I remember previous sips of this being very leather & smoke forward, so this pour has been quite a pleasant surprise and change of pace.

Finish: Fairly sweet and fruity, with light spice and oak underneath. The finish lingers for a good minute or two.

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
Price: ~$30


Honestly, I was prepared to rank Eagle Rare in the high-7 to low-8 range based on previous pours. Not sure if my palate has changed or giving the bottle a bit of air has made a difference but I really found today's pour quite enjoyable. What previously seemed too heavy on oak and leather suddenly has a much better balance of flavors. As a result Eagle Rare might become a regular on the shelf if today's tasting proves to be the norm.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon Rating: 8.6/10

Review: Angel's Envy Rye

Angel's Envy Rye Whiskey

Angel's Envy Rye is a relatively new and somewhat limited offering. It comes to us from the Henderson family who launched the Angel's Envy brand. Similar to their bourbon offering, the AE Rye takes what would likely be a relatively standard whiskey and gives it a unique finish. In this case, they have taken a 6 year rye (95% rye, 5% malted barley) and finish it for up to 18 months in Caribbean rum casks. Their website can be found here and it offers a good amount of information on the product as well as the brand.

Angel's Envy Rye - Tasting Notes

Nose: If you didn't know this was finished in rum casks before, the nose leaves little doubt. Powerful maple syrup smell that is only amplified when the glass is empty. Looking a little deeper the nose offers some coconut and very faint hints of spice behind that.


Palate: Slightly sweet on entry but the 95% rye mashbill is what shines. The rum presence doesn't disappear, but it plays the role of the Miami Sound Machine to the rye's Gloria Estefan.

Finish: Slight spice, but not much burn. The cinnamon spice of the rye lingers while a slight presence of the rum finish returns. A relatively short, but enjoyable finish.

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Price: $70

I was first introduced to this at a whiskey tasting in Metro Detroit. My enjoyment of the pour quickly had a wet blanket thrown over it as I found out it isn't available in-state (which is a recurring theme in Michigan). Luckily I had a couple out-of-state trips around the corner where I was lucky enough to track down a bottle. Overall this a really tasty and unique sipper. I'd like to see the price come down a bit but the whiskey market prices don't appear to be slowing down any time soon. This one is definitely worth trying and is a great change of pace if you've got a sweet-tooth.

Angel's Envy Rye Rating: 8.7/10

Searching for the Best Sazerac in New Orleans' French Quarter

So originally I was going to write a recap of some cocktail bars in New Orleans. Having never been to NOLA before and being filled with ambition I thought this was an attainable task. The Big Easy quickly humbled me with its seemingly unending list of bars and since we were staying in the French Quarter I decided to narrow my scope. Since the Sazerac is the iconic cocktail of New Orleans, and the French Quarter was the entirety of NO when it was founded, I figured this was a good place to start. While this list is far from complete it was all I could squeeze in during my 2+ days in town. For anyone curious I've got some general info on the Sazerac at the bottom of this post. And with that... let's get to the rankings!

Kingfish - F

Let me start off by saying that Kingfish is an excellent restaurant. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was outstanding. With that in mind I was shocked by the poor quality of the drink. Maybe I caught them on an off night or maybe the bartender fudged the drink but I wasn't seated at the bar so I couldn't tell. The first sign of trouble was when I asked the waitress what type of rye was used in the drink and what was available. She told me she didn't know and came back with the underwhelming answer of Old Overholt and Bulleit. The drink came and I couldn't even finish it... I've never not finished a Sazerac before. This place probably deserves another shot, but it was by far the worst Sazerac I had while in the French Quarter and was thus given a failing grade.

Rotating bar at Carousel

Carousel Bar - C

The draw for this place is the rotating bar. Yes, the circle bar you sit at slowly rotates around the staff and bottles in the center. It's a pretty cool gimmick and a pretty cool looking bar. Their Sazerac appropriately uses Sazerac Rye. Unfortunately it was a little subpar. From a bar this nice I was expecting more.

Old Absinthe House - B

The name of this place does it justice... it's very "historic". Football helmets hanging from the ceiling and middle-aged women dancing to Pat Benetar were the snapshots I took away from my time there. The Sazerac was pretty good, though I wish the whiskey was a little more prominent. Using a low proof, low rye whiskey (Old Overholt) was probably the main culprit here.

Sazerac at St. Lawrence

St Lawrence - B

Popped into this cozy place towards the Mississippi River side of the Quarter for some small bites and of course, a Sazerac. The dirty rice and gumbo were great and this made for a perfect 3-o-clock in the afternoon stop. The cocktail here used High West Double Rye which was a first for me, but I was already a fan so sign me up. The drink itself was good enough to order again, but something was just a tad off on it. Not sure if it was light on bitters or syrup or Herbsaint but a minor tweak is probably all that was needed to bump this up a grade.

NOLA - A

Emeril's French Quarter restaurant was chosen by my lovely date as our Sunday night meal. I was ready to be let down by the food but it met and exceeded expectations. I hadn't planned on getting a cocktail here, but it was made with the Baby Saz and had a reasonable price so I went for it. I'm glad I did. Great balance of all the ingredients made for a winner.

Sazerac and another cocktail at Bar Tonique

Bar Tonique - A

My favorite bar in the French Quarter checks in at 2nd place. Look, the Sazerac was great and they made it with Sazerac Rye (as it should be). If you like a nice cocktail bar that is a healthy mix of solid whiskey and urban grit, this place is a winner. We popped in the first time on Saturday around 5p and got the last 2 seats in the place. It's crowded for a reason... great prices, great cocktails and an overachieving bartender (1 person serving about 25 in a pretty timely fashion). Sazerac gets an A, the bar gets an A+... will be my first stop the next time I'm in the French Quarter.

...and the winner! The Sazerac Cocktail at Sazerac Bar

Sazerac Bar - A+

Sometimes the #1 seed wins the tournament. Such was the case on my trip to New Orleans. I love an underdog story, but the bar who shares its name with the cocktail and is the home of it's genesis just wouldn't be denied. The birthplace of the Sazerac does it right - a perfect balance of all the components made for my best cocktail of the trip.

Some Brief Background on the Sazerac Cocktail

The Sazerac is one of the earliest known cocktails, pre-dating the Civil War and sometimes referred to as the oldest known American cocktail. It originally was a Cognac-based drink and got its name due to tthe use of Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils cognac. Now it is more commonly made with rye whiskey. In addition to the primary liquor it contains sugar or simple syrup, Peychaud bitters, a lemon peel and is serve in a chilled, absinthe-rinsed glass. Herbsaint is commonly substituted for absinthe, a trend which gained prominence when absinthe was banned in the US (1912-2007).

Review: Canadian Club Dock 57 Blackberry Whisky

Dock 57 Blackberry Whisky

So what am i doing reviewing CC Dock 57? Well I got this bottle a while ago as a mixer and it's been sitting on the shelf for about a year. According to the label this is a "brave new drink inspired by the historic shipping port where the first Canadian Club adventure began." I've never considered myself a brave man, but when faced with this "brave" drink I decided it was time to cast aside my cowardly shackles and man up. Here are my tastings notes...

Canadian Club Dock 57 Blackberry - Tasting Notes

Nose: very sweet and sugary, grape or blackberry jello, a faint hint of Canadian whiskey but you have to look for it

Palate: light, almost syrupy sweet and a little grain-forward. The flavors on the nose come through a little bit, but not as much as one would expect

Finish: some young alcohol & grain flavor show up at first, followed by light notes of the blackberry and grape which stick around for a while

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Price: $15

Look, this probably (or definitely) isn't intended to be a sipper. I bought it with the sole purpose of mixing with coke and getting a healthy buzz on during a tailgate (aka - bravery). Guess what... it worked!! Not only that, but it was a delicious combo that others seemed to enjoy. So if a "whatever" & coke is your poison, I'd highly recommend this bottle. But since this site is intended to review the sauce itself as a sipper, we're going to give out a not so flattering rating. It's just too sweet, syrupy and young tasting to have on its own... despite it being the bravest whisky I've ever tried.

Canadian Club Dock 57 Blackberry Rating: 5.5/10

The Best Downtown Las Vegas Cocktail Bars

I spent Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas and made sure to include a handful of cocktail bars as part of the trip. Personally, I prefer Downtown Las Vegas to the strip. There are more casinos in close proximity, it's easier to get in and out, and since I am far from a high-roller it's much more affordable. So with that in mind I wanted to scout some of the options away from the strip. Most of these are in the downtown area and within walking distance of any hotel on Fremont Street.

This trip was a little fuzzy, as Vegas has a tendency to do, so these reviews will focus more on the bars in general, rather than the cocktails that were ordered (as was done in my Minneapolis Cocktail Bars review)

Downtown Las Vegas Cocktail Bars

Mob Bar

The bar at Mob Bar

Mob Bar is located on 3rd Street, just north of the Fremont Street Experience. I first stumbled across this place a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. On more recent visits though, it's been less than overwhelming. They've got a fairly small cocktail menu and the service can be spotty if you aren't seated at the bar. While not my top choice, it's a stone's throw from Fremont and usually has open seating. My advice, grab a seat at the bar and enjoy some of the appetizers they offer.. the chicken parmesan sliders are absolutely phenomenal.

Bar + Bistro

About a mile south of Fremont is Bar + Bistro. This bar is in the arts district so you will see a lot of items inside that were crafted locally (liquor bottles as lampshades & glasses, street signs as tables, etc). You'll also likely be served by someone connected to the local art scene. The cocktail menu isn't huge, but has some good options for whatever type of liquor-based drink you want. This place has a pretty cool feel to it and plenty of whiskey on hand - they have three display cases showcasing all of the juice available. Add this to a solid food menu and decent service (it's been awesome a couple times, adequate a couple other, but never bad) and you've got a very solid bar.

Lady Silvia

The Lady Silvia

The Lady Silvia is just east of Bar + Bistro and located in a larger commercial building. The interior of this place is really unique. High ceilings and built-in bookcases along the walls, with an eclectic collection of furniture. This place felt like more of a spot for locals since the bartender quizzically asked us how we had heard about it. That aside, the drinks were good as was the service. Their liquor selection seemed a bit limited though so if you're looking for a pour of something specific you might be better off elsewhere. But if you want a decent cocktail in a really cool atmosphere this place is definitely worth checking out.

Laundry Room

A memento from The Laundry Room

Ok, I had a blend of excitement and trepidation headed into this one. The Laundry Room is located inside Commonwealth on Fremont Street East. Plus you can only get in with a reservation which is confirmed via texting a phone number not listed on their site (though it is shown on some popular review sites). The whole bar-within-a-bar and secret-text-reservations things came off as a little gimmicky, hence the trepidation. But the place had gotten some really solid reviews, hence the excitement.

Well push came to shove and we headed in for a couple rounds. I texted the magic number upon my arrival and we were taken back to the bar. They have seating for about 20-25 people and every drink is $15 - not cheap, but high-quality booze is used so it makes the price sting a little less. As for the drinks, they were outstanding. We planned on staying for 2 rounds and ended up having a third. Great drinks, great service, and delicious complimentary popcorn. I gotta say, this place lived up to the hype... a definite must-visit on my next trip to Vegas.

Herbs & Rye

Herbs & Rye steaks and sides
(sorry for the dark photo)

Herbs & Rye isn't located by Fremont but I'd seen some good things so wanted to check it out. It's a mile or two west of the strip on Sahara Avenue. The main draw for this stop was a happy hour that includes 50% off steak (plus your standard happy hour deals of cheap beer and well drinks). We ordered the filet and KC strip which were both really good. Additionally, the menu is filled with a healthy selection of cocktails. The drinks were tasty and priced reasonably at about $10 each. This place has more of a restaurant feel than cocktail bar, which is exactly what I'd recommend it for. Grab a few friends, get some steaks and a couple drinks before heading out on the town for the evening. 

Downtown Cocktail Room

The Lizard King at Downtown
Cocktail Room

The Downtown Cocktail Room is located on Fremont East and is a favorite of mine. Their bartenders know what they are doing and their cocktail menu changes every once in a while in case you want to mix things up. But that doesn't mean they can't make the classics - I had an outstanding Sazerac here on my first visit. It can get crowded on weekend nights, but during the week it's usually very low key and seating won't be an issue. This place has been outstanding every time I've stopped by and offers a great change-of-pace from the frantic atmosphere of Fremont.

So there you have it, my review of all the bars I was able to visit during my most recent trip to sin city. There are definitely some others I still want to get to, but those will have to be tackled on the next trip. Since this post is titled "The Best Downtown LV Cocktail Bars", I'd have to give the award to The Laundry Room and Downtown Cocktail Room. Keep in mind that the other bars likely don't consider themselves as solely a cocktail bar.  If you want a bite to eat I'd steer you towards Bar+Bistro or Herbs & Rye. And if you aren't quite looking for a meal, but don't really want a strict cocktail bar atmosphere Mob Bar and The Lady Silvia would be good options. These are all bars that I'm likely to visit again and they go to show that there are plenty of great non-casino options to fill your time in Las Vegas.

Review: Old Grand Dad Bonded & 114 Bourbon Whiskey

I'll be honest, I'd seen Old Grand Dad Bourbon on the shelf several times and never gave it a second look. The bright orange label led me to believe this was an old, cheap, tired bourbon. I couldn't have been more wrong. What caught my eye was their offering at 114 proof which is bottled quite differently than their lower proof offerings. OGD 114 has much more of a premium look to it, so apparently judging a book by it's cover was my thing. While I can't say I'm beyond this nasty habit, my experience with OGD has definitely helped to reduce my bottling prejudice.

The whiskey is named after Basil Hayden and was created by his grandson, Raymond - hence the Old Grand Dad name. It is currently offered at 3 proofs - 80, 100 and 114. The 80 proof version was 86, but in 2013 it was reduced. (I'm sure the people at Maker's Mark wish their change had gone as quietly as this one - though I'm guessing the bourbon community would gladly take an 80 proof Maker's if versions were also offered at 100 and 114 proof.) 

Today I'm covering the Bonded & 114 versions... I left out the 80 proof version because it wasn't all that good when I tried it at 86, so cutting the ABV probably didn't do it any favors.

Old Grand Dad Bonded - Tasting Notes

Old Grand Dad Bonded & Old Grand Dad 114

Nose: Vanilla, butter, caramel with just a hint of spice in the background. Really soft and pleasant, not overly powerful. This is something a first-time bourbon drinker might like.

Palate: Buttery, citrus-y, and silky on the entry with some mouth watering brown sugar sweetness as well. After a beat some of the spice notes show up.

Finish: Light vanilla and spice come and go quickly. Following this a light oak presence shows up.

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Price: $20

Old Grand Dad Bonded Rating: 7.9/10

Old Grand Dad 114 - Tasting Notes

Nose: All spice is prominent at first, then sweet corn and vanilla show up.

Palate: A thick mouthfeel that starts off very sweet. Strong caramel and brown sugar flavors eventually give way to a peppery spice.

Finish: A tiny bit of sweetness but spice, oak and mint are the key players in the third act which hangs around for a solid couple of minutes.

Proof: 114 (57% ABV)
Price: $23

Old Grand Dad 114 Rating: 8.7/10

Two solid bourbons here. OGD Bonded isn't overly complex so it graded a little lower as a result, but by no means is it a bad pour. Put it in front of me neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail and you'll be met with a "thank you" and a smile every time. The Old Grand Dad 114 just takes it to another level though. A friend of mine tried it blind and said it was like there was a party in his mouth... the higher proof and prominent flavors make it hard for me to argue. This might just be my favorite bourbon under $25 and is definitely something I'd recommend as a top value. Turns out judging a bourbon by it's bottle might not be the best tactic...

Rittenhouse Rye Review - 100 Proof Bottled in Bond

My previous experience with Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond (BIB) is entirely as a mixer. If I'm in a cocktail bar and order a rye-based drink (or if I'm making one at home), Rittenhouse is what I typically run with. Oddly enough, I don't think I've ever given this a try on it's own. Well I decided it was time to give this well-respected rye a spin.

A little info on BIB if interested - the whiskey has to meet a number of criteria

• must be the product of one distiller at one distillery
• it has to be produced in one year
• needs to be bottled at 100 proof
• must be aged in a federally bonded warehouse under US Govt supervision
• aged for at least four years

Rittenhouse Rye

Rittenhouse Rye - Tasting Notes

Nose: Light bubble gum with rye spice, vanilla & marshmallow. A slight tinge of young whiskey smell, but you have to look for it.

Palate: The palate starts off with vanilla sweetness, then turns to cinnamon spice... like having a stick of Big Red liquefy in your mouth.

Finish: The spice is predominant here. Very intense cinnamon heat that stays with you for a while. As this dissipates the young whiskey characteristics stick around for a bit making the finish a bit unpleasant

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Price: $23

I was a little surprised I didn't like this more than I did. After all, it has gotten favorable reviews from some well respected sources (as opposed to the efforts of this amateur) A bit of water helped remove some of the unpleasant notes while keeping the sweet & spicy flavors around. Keep in mind the rating below is if drinking Rittenhouse neat. This Rye works well over ice and is still going to be my go-to rye in cocktails. I'd put it closer to 8.5+ for either of those approaches.

Rittenhouse Rye Rating: 7.6/10

Temptation & Redemption Bourboun-Rye tastings (plus Old Overholt)

Color me a fan of whiskey tastings. My favorite local cocktail bar, Sugar House, does these every once in a while and I make every one that I can. On the menu for this week's tasting was Temptation Bourbon, Redemption High-Rye Bourbon, Riverboat Rye, and Redemption Rye. Sadly the Riverboat Rye was scratched in favor of Old Overholt for some reason, but I wasn't going to let that get in the way. The Redemption/Temptation bottles all come from LDI and this tasting was meant to show the progression of high-corn to high-rye whiskeys.

Temptation Bourbon

Proof: 82 (41% ABV)
Price: $23
Mashbill: 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley

Very, very sweet. It tasted a little young, but didn't have too much of the young-spirit flavor (at least to me... my friend found that element overpowering in this bottle). This was not a very complicated whiskey... sweet almost the whole way through with the exception of a little spice mid-palate. The main flavors present were corn and citrus.

Whiskey tasting lineup (- Riverboat, + Old Overholt)

Redemption High-Rye Bourbon

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Price: $26
Mashbill: 60% corn, 38.2% rye, 1.2% malted barley

As you'd expect, this had a little sweetness and a little spice. They worked well together to give this a nice balance and offer some more flavor than the Temptation did, potentially due to the higher proof. I really enjoyed this one and dubbed it my pick of the night. Could make for a good casual sipper or a good base for a bourbon cocktail that you wanted to add a little more spice to.

Old Overholt Rye

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Price: $20
Mashbill: 53% rye, 32% corn, 15% malted barley

Described as smelling awful by my friend and two-dimensional by one of the bartenders enjoying the tasting, this guy didn't win many people over. While I didn't love it, I didn't find it as offensive as others. The nose didn't really offer much up to me and the palate was somewhat bland. If I got it for free I wouldn't complain but this is simply a basic rye that is best suited as a mixer, not a primary element.

Redemption Rye

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Price: $29
Mashbill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley

Redemption Rye was extremely spicy with a lot of pine. A couple of my neighbors rated it as their favorite but this one was too young and aggressive for my tastes. I'm a rye fan, but this pour made my tongue feel like it was being electrocuted. I believe this is the same juice as is used in the Bulleit Rye, which I enjoy, so apparently I like my rye mellowed a bit. Despite all this, I can definitely see why the other guys had it as their favorite. The strong spice and pine notes make for a very assertive rye that would probably be great if you are looking to make a cocktail with a lot of spice.


Overall, I'd take the Redemption Bourbon if I had to choose one of them though I'd most likely pass these bottles up the next time I'm looking for a value whiskey. For the $20-$30 range I think you can do a lot better if you are looking for sweet (Evan Williams Single Barrel), sweet-spicy (Old Grand Dad 114), or spicy (Rittenhouse & Bulleit Rye).

Vintage Bourbon 17 Review

I first came across the Vintage Bourbon 17 Year at a favorite local bar of mine just about 2 years ago. It was love at first sip. As soon as I tried it I was on the hunt for some bottles. Sadly, my search began in vain as it is not sold in Michigan (a painfully re-occurring theme for certain bottles). Over the course of the next 6 months I was able to find a mere 2 bottles. If I had found 10 I would have bought all of them. Needless to say, I am going into this review with a bit of bias.

As far as info on the juice itself goes, there isn't a whole lot out there. The label claims it is chosen from the rarest of barrels and the bottlings are limited (amongst other things to boost the confidence of any potential buyer). From what I have been able to find, this is a wheated bourbon and a non-distiller product from our friends at KBD (Kentucky Bourbon Distillers). There are also 21 and 23 year old versions of this bourbon, though I've never seen them on a store shelf and only once in a bar.

Vintage Bourbon 17 Year Old - Tasting Notes

Vintage Bourbon 17

Nose: Very sweet nose. Candied dark fruits with caramel and vanilla present as well. A little bit of oak if you look for it but the sweetness really overpowers everything else.

Palate: Light mouthfeel, but not too light as it gives a brief coating. The initial taste mirrors the nose, with a sweet start followed by dark chocolate... and my mouth is literally watering. This mixes with a little cinnamon spice and a bit of oak towards the end. The combination of these flavors is absolutely TNT (dynamite!).

Finish: Nice and smooth, annnnnd my mouth is still watering from the palate. The candied fruits stick around for a long time and any spice from the palate dissipates quickly. The lingering notes are caramel and vanilla and these two stick around for a good minute or so. Solid overall finish

Proof: 94 (47% ABV)
Price: ~$70-100

I tried to be impartial, but this stuff might be my favorite bourbon on the market. I may have to put it up in a blind taste against some Jefferson's 18, Pappy 15 & Pappy 20 to see which wheater I like the best (might even throw the Very Old Scout 19-year or Elmer T. Lee in the mix too). Regardless of how the tasting turns out, this will definitely be a bottle that I'm always on the lookout for
.

Vintage Bourbon 17 Rating: 9.7/10

Review: Jefferson's Straight Rye - 10 Year

Jefferson's Rye Whiskey appears to be sourced from Canada, which when looking at other reviews appears to be a bit of a concern at first. However, I can nearly see Canada when I look out my window and have always been fond of our neighbors in the Great White North. So I decided to give it a shot anyways, eh? (If you want some detail on where this rye whiskey comes from there is a good write-ups about it at Whiskey Obsessive.)

So how did I come upon the Jefferson's Rye? Well I was recently in Maine, celebrating America's birthday with some friends and eating 4 lobsters in two days. (quick sidebar - I had NO IDEA how cheap lobsters are in Maine. Like, 2 cooked lobsters for $18 cheap... great stuff. Ok, back to business...) When we got into town, I wanted to check out a liquor shop to see if I could find any bottles that were tough to get in MI. I spotted an Evan Williams Single Barrel (barreled in 2001) and then noticed that Jefferson's Rye was on sale for $30. It's usually $35 in my state and my buddy and I both like whiskey enough that I figured we could get through the bottle (spoiler alert... we did). Let's see how it tasted...

Jefferson's Rye 10 Year Old - Tasting Notes

Jefferson's Straight Rye Whiskey
(apologies for the stock photo... drank it all
before I was able to take a photo)

Nose: A little sweet, a little spice and a lot pleasant. For some reason the overall scent that I got was pink bubble gum. I tried picking it apart a bit more, but then decided if I was getting pink bubble gum on the nose and I liked it, why keep digging?

Palate: The mouthfeel isn't thick or thin... sort of like the baby bear's porridge. The flavors here are vanilla, cinnamon, honey, rye (obvi) and of course that pink bubble gum flavor which I couldn't shake from my head. Sweeter than many other ryes but it still has plenty of spice in tow.

Finish: This is where you know the Jefferson's Rye is 100% rye in the mashbill. A little warming burn at first and the spice from the palate takes over. Flavors of mint & cinnamon linger quite pleasantly for a good couple of minutes once it's gone down the hatch.

Proof: 94 (47% ABV)
Price: ~$35

Well Mr. Jefferson, I'm sold. At a price under $40 for a 10-year rye, this is a great whiskey. I enjoyed it more than the bottle of Whistlepig that I had and it only cost me half as much. This can be used as a really good sipper, or if you're feeling cocktail-y you could use it to make something that would most likely wind up being delicious. Needless to say, I plan on picking up another bottle of this sooner than later.

Jefferson's Straight Rye Whiskey (10-Year) Rating: 8.9/10

Jim Beam White Label Review

Jim Beam White Label is one of the best-selling bourbons globally. It is aged 4 years and is the primary offering from Beam, which has a handful of other whiskeys as well. While some experts and enthusiasts may thumb their noses at the standard Beam offering, there has to be a reason this is stocked at every liquor store and well-received globally other than marketing and low cost, right? Well at a party this weekend I got my chance to find out. The whiskey options were Beam White Label, or Dewar's White Label. Since I wasn't in the mood for scotch or a mixed drink, I grabbed a pour of my old friend Jim to get the night started.

Jim Beam White Label Bourbon - Tasting Notes

Nose: Light vanilla and oak with some corn. Fairly straight-forward and simple.

Palate: Some corn sweetness with very light spice towards the end. A fairly thin mouth-feel with just a hint of oak.

Finish: Fairly short finish. A bit of heat is present at the start but it quickly dissipates and you are left with some light oak and vanilla.

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Price: ~$18

Jim Beam White Label
4 year Bourbon

Overall, most of the flavor notes are fairly timid. This bourbon doesn't have large, robust flavor that pops you in the mouth and at a mere 40% ABV, that's understandable.

JB White Label is like a solid backup catcher who will hit .250 for you without much power. He's typically underrated by the fan-base and will bounce around the league for about a dozen seasons, but there's always a team in need of his services. I know this doesn't sound like a compliment, but it is. Most baseball fans know how valuable a solid backup catcher can be over the course of a full season. And yes Jim Beam, you are the backup catcher in this baseball bourbon analogy. You are reliable, readily available, and while I wouldn't put you in the lineup every day, I don't have any reservations about penciling you in when the starters need a day off.

Jim Beam Bourbon White Label Rating: 7.2/10

Minneapolis Cocktail Bars & Restaurants

So one of my bucket list items (albeit an unoriginal one) is to see the Detroit Tigers play in as many other cities as possible. This past weekend, I knocked Minneapolis off the list. Our hotel was right by Target Field and we were surrounded by a myriad of dining, drinking and shopping options. But you're not here to read about the stores, stadiums or the phenomenal vintage Quebec Nordiques shirt I found, so let's get to the bars in order of attendance.

Minneapolis Cocktail Bars & Restaurants

Bradstreet Crafthouse Restaurant

Our first stop after arriving on Thursday was Bradstreet Crafthouse, located in the Graves|601 hotel. I was excited to try this place based on a strong cocktail menu and some delicious sounding sliders. They offer a happy hour menu with 3 slider and drink options and we jumped all over the sliders. First up were the chicken & waffles sliders. They are normally $6 each but during happy hour you get 2 of them for $6.01... yes please! 

Chicken & Waffle Sliders and Sazerac at Bradstreet

Along with the sliders I ordered a Sazerac, followed by a pour of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. At most new bars, I'll order a Sazerac or Old Fashioned as I feel they are a good measuring stick. If you can't get a good one of these at the bar, you probably can't get much else worth your time. The Sazerac at Bradstreet definitely passed the test. The only reason I didn't order another cocktail was because I'd never had the EC Barrel and it was priced at a reasonable $12 on their extensive liquor list. 

Great service, atmosphere, food and drinks... this place was going to be tough to beat. Sadly we couldn't stay past our 2nd drink as we had a dinner reservation to get to. But we liked it so much that we decided to make it our pre-game stop on Friday. 

Day 2 cocktails at Bradstreet including an appetizer cocktail in
the middle (free experimental sample from bartender)

Bradstreet sliders - Mango BBQ Pulled Pork on the ends and
Philly Cheese Steak in the center

Butcher & the Boar

Dinner on night one was at Butcher & the Boar, which got plenty of rave reviews online and from every source I checked. But the reason this restaurant initially caught my eye was because of their extensive drink menu. They even had Vintage 17 on the menu, although they were all out of it during our visit. After that minor heartbreak, I gathered myself and started the meal off with some Four Roses Single Barrel. As per usual, it was great but the real treat here was the food. And by "real treat" I mean "abso-freaking-lutely delicious" food. I could eat here every day and die a happy man... I'd probably die in about 5 years from a massive coronary, but I'd go with a smile on my face and a belly full of meat & whiskey. Plus there would be the added bonus of people being able to say that I "died doing what I love".

Before I continue to gush about the food here, I'll get to the cocktail I ordered. The old fashioned was really good. It featured their exclusive bottling of Single Barrel Knob Creek (120 proof) but the use of simple syrup AND brown sugar really cooled the burn and made the drink a little sweeter than the typical old fashioned. It was a great follow-up to our meal and I would definitely order it again. 

Beef link, smoked long rib and red hot brussels sprouts

The baked Alaska dessert looked so good we had to
get a bite before taking the picture

As for the meal, we ordered the Texas beef link and the smoked beef long rib (as recommended by the bartender at Bradstreet). Neither of these disappointed. The beef link was tasty and had a good bit of spice to it, while the long rib was tender and melty with a delicious tabasco-molasses bbq sauce. I was sad and disappointed in myself that I couldn't finish the whole thing or box it up to take home. On the side we had mashed potatoes and the red hot brussels sprouts which get my vote for the coveted, imaginary, Best Brussels Sprouts in the World award. For dessert we split the baked Alaska, which fell in line with the rest of the meal and could be classified as amazing. Smoked meringue with bourbon caramel ice cream... how can anyone say no to that?? 

This place is a MUST for any non-vegetarian. In fact, it may be one of the driving factors behind another visit to Minneapolis. Though I didn't have room for a second cocktail, I can't imagine coming to this place just for drinks when they have so much to offer on the menu. Maybe next time I'll grab a couple cocktails before ordering the food.

Icehouse

Bloody Homer at Icehouse

Stop 3 on the trip was Icehouse, which earned our attendance on Saturday morning due to their delightful looking Bloody Homer (bloody mary with donut and bacon garnish, served in a Duff Beer glass). As for cocktails, this place didn't get a fair shake since we were there before noon and stuck to the brunch menu. Hence, we'll keep this review brief.

The Bloody Homer wasn't for me as I don't like Bloody Mary's in general. I'm told it was pretty good once a fair portion of heat was added to the drink. We ordered the brisket hash and the pastrami & egg sandwich. Both huge portions and delicious food. Overall this deserves another look for their cocktails but if you want a tasty brunch, you won't leave the Icehouse disappointed.

Brisket Hash

Pastrami & Egg Sandwich

Marvel Bar

Marvel Bar logo on napkin

Marvel Bar got the call for our Saturday pre-game drinks. This included an unintential stop at The Bachelor Farmer (located in same building) and awkwardly asking "is this Marvel?" We got a pleasant reply pointing us in the right direction and mentioning a doorman who wasn't present the first time we walked by. I got the feeling the Bachelor Farmer staff got asked this a lot, and was somewhat tired of pointing business in another direction. Nevertheless we finally made it in and had time for a round before walking over to the ballpark.

This place is set up to be a "cool cocktail bar" - dimly lit, plenty of candles, a long bar, eclectic collection of lounge chairs and an outstanding liquor selection. Our drinks were great and Marvel passed the old fashioned leg of my cocktail bar test. My guess is that this place may get a little stuffy and have a line outside on weekend nights, which would lead me towards other locales, but that is merely speculation.

Check out this soap!

And one other fun note... the men's room! I know, who cares, but the setup was pretty cool. Urinals down to the floor with splash guards and little soap handles right next to the sinks. I really shouldn't be this amazed by a men's room but for some reason I was dazzled by the setup, more so than the decor of the actual bar.

Bottom line, if I am in Minneapolis again, Marvel Bar will be included on the agenda (to use the bathroom at the very least, but hopefully for a few rounds).

Eat Street Social

Cocktail at Eat Street Social

Eat Street Social was the final stop on our bar tour and is a restaurant-bar combo. It came recommended by a local Detroit bartender who knows his shit, so I had high hopes. While we didn't get any food, we got plenty of cocktails. Their variation of the old fashioned was delicious and the Manhattan that followed was equally pleasing. The one drink that graded out slightly below average was the Sazerac, but I think this is because they included lemon peel in the glass, which gave it a little more bitterness than I like in my Saz. While I may not have loved my third drink, my date was thrilled with her two rounds. The bartenders were friendly and entertaining which made for an enjoyable night.

I was a little nervous headed here on a Saturday night but we showed up around 10p and grabbed a couple of seats at the bar. There was some noise in the bar but not so much that you couldn't hear each other talk. This place feels like the perfect bar for a date night and I'd love to check out the food on my next visit. And with that, our whirlwind tour of Minny came to a close.


Are there other bars that should be on this list? Did I miss any area favorites that I need to check out? Is there a "top bar" on this list? Yes, probably and not really. There are definitely some others I'll want to view in a next visit to MPLS but knocking out 5 places in what was essentially 3 days was pretty good. As for an overall "winner", I think Butcher & Boar is a MUST for food, while all of the other cocktail bars should get the job done every time. If you are looking for something a little more upscale then Bradstreet and Marvel are probably your best bets, while Eat Street and Icehouse seem like great places for a date or group outing.

Review: Parker's Heritage Collection Cognac Finish

The cognac finished Parker's Heritage Collection bourbon is the 2011 version of this annual bottling. We previously reviewed the 2012 Parker's Blend of Mashbills in this space and figured it was high time to review the 2011 offering. This bourbon uses the Evan Williams Single Barrel mashbill, was aged for 10 years, then aged in cognac barrels for 4-6 months. For a great detailed write-up on this bottle, check out Cigar Aficionado's article.

Parker's Heritage Collection Cognac Finish (2011) - Tasting Notes

Parker's Heritage College - Cognac Finish

Nose: Subtler nose than a typical bourbon, but fairly complex. Rich fruits like plums, grapes/raisins and ripe oranges show themselves at first - likely a direct influence of the cognac finish. After sitting for a while some of the traditional bourbon notes like caramel and maple come out.

Palate: Very sweet, but not sweet like pouring a bag of skittles in your mouth. There are definitely some layers here. Raisins, toffee and syrup with spice (cinnamon and chili) at the end.

Finish: The spice from the palate is prominent at the start then yields to soft, rich sweetness reminiscent of butterscotch, raisins and cocoa. The finish hangs around for quite a while.

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)

Price: ~$90

I really took some time to review this and was fairly hesitant about writing one at all. At first glance this can come across as a fairly pedestrian bourbon if not given the time to show all of its complexity. The first few pours didn't overly impress me but I could tell there was more to this bottle than I was catching. When I really took my time with a glass and tried to enjoy it from nose to finish it unfolded layer after layer of flavor. This is a really good product from Parker Beam and company that should be enjoyed when you have 30-60 minutes to sit back, relax and sip a superb bourbon.

Parker's Heritage Collection Cognac Finish Rating: 9.3/10

Elijah Craig 18 Year Review

Elijah Craig 18 Year Single Barrel bourbon is a steal at a price of $45 when compared to other bourbons that have been aged for at least a decade. Sadly, it appears that this bottle was discontinued a while ago and may or may not be coming back. In an earlier blind bourbon tasting I compared it Elmer T Lee, with Elmer winning the battle. It had been a while since I tried the EC18 so I though it was worth revisiting to see if it's flavor, or my palate, had changed any. Let's see how it tasted...

Elijah Craig 18 Single Barrel

Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel - Tasting Notes

Nose: Prominent oak & leather up front with almonds, citrus, maple and chocolate just below the surface. Everything hiding beneath the leather is what I love in a bourbon.

Palate: Slight spice with sweet maple and candy corn flavor. As it lingers in the mouth, the age shows itself with some oaky, leathery, nutty, almost tannic flavors.

Finish: The sweetness of the palate dissipates quickly as some brief spice and lingering, leathery bitterness take over. There are some heavy char notes along with wood tannins that come on too strongly at the finish.

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)

Price: ~$45

Barrel info for my Elijah Craig 18-yr

As evidenced by the nearly empty bottle in the photo, I really want to like this bourbon and gave it a lot of chances. I also offered it up to friends to see if they could catch something I wasn't - they didn't. The subtleties of the nose below the leather are outstanding, as is the palate. Unfortunately the finish is just too bitter for me, and the smoke & leather on the nose overpower the other delightful aspects. Keep in mind that since this is a single barrel product it will vary from batch to batch so I may have a different opinion altogether if I had a different barrel/bottle.  I've seen some reviews that rave about this bourbon and don't mention much bitterness so I'm inclined to think I may have gotten a rough barrel or a corked bottle... keep that in mind if you put any weight behind my rating - average nose, great palate, awful finish.

Elijah Craig 18 Year Rating: 7.0/10

Review: Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon

Evan Williams Single Barrel saw it's 18th release in 2013. It is a pretty inexpensive bourbon for a single barrel bottling and has received some high praise over the years. Some more detailed info can be found at a couple of official sites - Evan Williams site & the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center site. This bourbon isn't as available as it's little brother (who works very well as a mixer IMO), but most liquor stores with a decent collection should carry it - assuming their supplies haven't been bought up. The bottle being reviewed today is from their 2011 release and was barreled in 2001.

Evan Williams Single Barrel

Evan Williams Single Barrel, 2001 - Tasting Notes

Nose: A very sweet nose on this. Maple syrup, citrus and a faint hint of spice and oak, but only barely perceptible.

Palate: Soft, smooth, sweet, very enjoyable. The maple and citrus from the nose remain and a bit of sweetened corn comes through as well.

Finish: The sweetness of the palate gives way to some quick peppery spice. The lingering taste is a nice combination of the two predominant flavors in the finish - maple & pepper.

Proof: 86.6 (43.3% ABV)

Price: ~$30

I really, really like this. While it isn't bursting with complexity, it makes for a super bourbon that can be appreciated neat by just about anyone who enjoys bourbon. Throw in the fact that this comes in right around $30 and you've got a fantastic bourbon that most people can get their hands on. While the proof is somewhat low when compared to many other bourbons on the market (especially single barrels) it still works quite well. And while I've seen flavors vary from barrel to barrel and year-to-year via some other reviews, the common thread seems to be that Evan Williams Single Barrel is always enjoyable.

Evan Williams Single Barrel Rating: 9.1/10

Campfire Whiskey Review - High West Distillery

Campfire Whiskey comes to us from the fine people at the High West Distillery in Park City, Utah. It is a pretty unique whiskey compared to everything else in the market - a blend of bourbon, rye and scotch. Drinkhacker has a good breakdown of the mash bills used in each whiskey that goes into this, while Sour Mash Manifesto takes a look at the age of the whiskeys. It seems like the proportions of each that make up Campfire whiskey are kept under lock & key, though some have ventured to guess. So how did this 3-whiskey-blend fare?

Campfire Whiskey - Tasting Notes

High West Campfire Whiskey

Nose: The name rings true... this smells like a campfire. I'm reminded of orange and gray wooden embers while sitting around a fading campfire at the end of the night. If you take a sniff with bourbon, rye or scotch in mind you'll like pick out some of the trademark characteristics such as corn, spice & smoke, respectively.

Palate: The first sip on every pour I've had has been very scotch forward, while the second sip seemed to show the rye. Those two flavors are prominent, but every once in a while I'll also catch a hint of the corn sweetness from the bourbon portion of this concoction. The different flavors seem to show themselves on different sips.

Finish: The finish has depended on what whiskey notes I caught on the sip. However, after a few seconds there is a light peaty-spicy taste that lingers in the mouth

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Price: ~$50

Overall this is a VERY interesting pour. With the flavors of 3 types of whiskey present it's almost like have 3 glasses in front of you and taking a sip from a random glass each time. Sometimes you'll get pure rye, sometimes it will taste like a bourbon with a scotch finish, etc. If you're in the mood for a complex whiskey that will keep you on your toes, this is a great pick.

High West Campfire Whiskey Rating: 8.3/10

Review: Vintage Rye 21 Year

Vintage Rye 21 is not a whiskey I have seen around much. I grabbed a couple bottles in NYC last year while I was hunting for it's younger cousin, Vintage Bourbon 17 year. While I didn't find the bourbon, I was pretty excited about finding the rye on sale for $65 (the other bottles I've seen are $85+). I included this guy in a random tasting a while ago and it didn't fare so well. It was my least favorite, and came in 2nd place when the other votes came in (losing to Elmer T Lee bourbon and edging out Singleton scotch). Let's see if it's grown on me at all.

Vintage Rye 21 Year Old - Tasting Notes

Vintage Rye 21 Year Old

Nose: Very sweet, like cinnamon & red hot syrup. This is a great combo for my tastes. I definitely don't recall enjoying the nose this much from previous pours.

Palate: Viscous and sweet from the start. Vanilla, caramel and spice jump out to me but it feels like there is a lot more going on. I even caught a little coca-cola-esque flavor in there.

Finish: Ah yes, this may have been why I don't hold this rye in higher esteem. The finish has the same spice which is present throughout, but other than that it really seemed to dry the mouth out and leave a lot of oak. However, if you enjoy a strong oak presence this may be the perfect rye for you. And honestly, it's been aged for 21 years... I'd be shocked if the oak flavor were any subtler.

Proof: 94 (47% ABV)
Price: ~$85

This has definitely grown on me since the first few pours I had. The nose & palate are phenomenal but the finish just isn't my favorite. With that being said, I'd still gladly accept a pour of this and if I come across it I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a bottle. This is a great, great value for a well-aged rye, especially one that is a whopping 21 years old.

Vintage Rye 21 Year Old Rating: 8.8/10