Penny for Your Thoughts - Russell's Reserve Single Barrel, Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Rye
I had a chance to try two whiskies at South Pointe, both quite enjoyable.
Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Small Batch (55% ABV) - Forgive Wild Turkey this meaningless name. (First, how big would a single barrel need to be to not qualify as small batch? Second, it seems like the recent bottle redesign does away with the "small batch" misnomer, which is long overdue.) Whatever barrel I tried has some great characteristics, and it's clear that they aim for exemplars of classic bourbon flavors. That being said, the one I had exhibited a slight (and interesting) twist! The very first whiff off the nose was reminiscent of balsamic vinaigrette. The subsequent scents were pure vanilla, caramel, and another unexpected note: strawberry shortcake. A first-rate nose. The palate falls more in line with the quintessential bourbon profile: honey, caramel, butter, a bit of bite from the high proof, and a strong swirl of wood tannins (maybe a hint too much). Then, right as I swallow, a flourishing of apples. The high proof makes this one a bit of a tongue burner, which is one of its few flaws, as it is a little tricky to spot all the flavors before the alcohol dulls the senses. The finish is warm, a tiny bit tart, and is where the wood fully expresses itself. It's a rich, vibrant oak, almost like young wood chips. The finish also is quite spicy, so much so that there's no detectable vanilla at the end, and only a little caramel. The empty glass smells like a well-kept piece of antique furniture. B+
Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Rye (45%) - Did I just step into a bakery? And by bakery, I mean a real, bread bakery, not a pastry bakery. The nose of this rye smells like multi-grain bread, with a dollop of flaxseed and oats. The background is a little dash of sweet butterscotch and honey. The first sip is watery, but perhaps that's the aftereffect of following that 2 oz pour of the more robust Russell's Reserve. The taste also has some bread-like characteristics and is a little medicinal. The palate is the weak suit of this whiskey, because there really is not much there. The finish is medium length, still bready, a little tart, and very spicy -- all that rye spice pops up in the finish. It's very smooth, and at $20 a bottle, a pretty strong value play, which probably could be a good cocktail mixer because of that nice finish (and in a cocktail, its thin body will be bolstered by the other ingredients). The empty glass has an aroma of caramel and vanilla, as if it was a bourbon rather than a rye, which is unexpected. I wonder why those flavors didn't show up to the party earlier! B-
