Penny for Your Thoughts - Parker's Heritage Promise of Hope, Eagle Rare 10, Rock Hill Farms
It was hard to choose from the incredible selection at Avenue Pub, but I ended up having these three whiskies while watching the game.
Parker's Heritage Promise of Hope, 2013 (48% ABV) - What a revelation from this 10-year old, special-edition whiskey. Promise of Hope is a legendary release from Heaven Hill, part of their annual limited release named in honor of their former master distiller, Parker Beam. The name "Promise of Hope" refers to the fact that, when Beam was diagnosed with ALS, the company committed to donating a portion of the revenue from future editions of the product to ALS-related charities. PoH is probably the best non-barrel proof bourbon I've ever enjoyed, with a virtuoso level of harmony and balance among its boatload of classic bourbon scents and flavors: caramel, butterscotch, toffee, smoky oak, orchard fruit, leather, vanilla, cream, maple syrup, and rye spice. It really is everything to love about bourbon, revealing itself gradually in stages, and with a thick, luxurious texture. The finish is an overnight house guest in terms of how long it stays, with some interesting notes of licorice, anise, spice, and eucalyptus. This bottle is close to impossible to find now, and egregiously expensive at $500 or more, but it is near the pinnacle of the whiskey world. I wasn't experiencing any unique or surprising flavors for much of the experience, however, which is the sole flaw that keeps it from ascending to A+ territory. A
Eagle Rare 10 (45%) - Compared to Promise of Hope, Eagle Rare 10 is about the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of price and availability. As one of the mid-level Buffalo Trace bottles, it's not going to be too hard to find this bourbon on the shelves of almost any half-decent liquor store, and it is competitively priced at between $33-40. A fun nose features sweet, candy-like dates, marzipan (more so than vanilla, although that's here as well), cappuccino, and some leather. It tastes fruity and sweet, like a lot of Buffalo Trace's products do, with honey, dates, apple, and that marzipan balanced out by some barrel char and rye spice. The finish is espresso, cherry, yeasty rye bread, and again a little smoke. Eagle Rare 10's probably a better value than Blanton's, and would be one of my staple bottles under $35. If only they released barrel proof Eagle Rare! B+
Rock Hill Farms (50%) - Rock Hill Farms shares a mash bill with Blanton's, and in some ways must be a close cousin to Blanton's Gold, the overseas exclusive that amps up the ABV. Compared to the Blanton's lineup, my guess is that Rock Hill Farms reflects a conscious choice to select fruitier or more berry-flavored barrels. After a nose of vanilla and raisins, the palate features a strong bite of spice and caramel, but with a dominant note of sweet blackberries. The finish is mild and sweet, fruit-forward like the palate, and doesn't feature the wood or smoke notes that I really love. This bourbon strikes me as an elevated version of Buffalo Trace, but to be honest I don't think it's worth the price premium. In the current bourbon mania, this has become a rare bottle, often priced in the triple digits, where I think it represents a poor value. At around $50, I'd give it a half-step up in rating. B