Shenk’s Homestead 2024 Release

Shenk’s Homestead 2024 Release

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Dark amber
45.6% ABV

Dram

Nose: Honey, cream, yoghurt, vanilla, cinnamon, fresh baked bread, milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Brown paper, dried cherries, cream, honey, cinnamon, raisins, milk chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, brown paper, black tea, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Sweet and creamy, a little less complex than the 2023 version. There are some interesting dried cherries notes on the tongue, but this is an easy drinker, not taxing at all.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bomberger’s Declaration 2023 Release

Bomberger’s Declaration 2023 Release

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Copper amber 
54% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, black tea, autumn leaves, vanilla ice cream, brown paper, hints of milk chocolate. With water, orange peel, whipped cream, milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Hoppy beer, vanilla ice cream, pear drops, milk chocolate, cola nuts, orange peel, hints of cream. With water, aluminium foil, milk chocolate, whipped cream. 
Finish: Medium. Cola nuts, milk chocolate, vanilla ice cream, hoppy beer. 

Comments: 

Batch L23E1952. Sweet and luscious, chocolatey as well. It’s much more like a sherried whisky than a bourbon, surprisingly. Only the occasional whiffs of brown paper and whipped cream remind me it’s from Kentucky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey 2023 Edition

Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey 2023 Edition

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Copper
45.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, whipped cream, desiccated coconut, brown paper, milk chocolate, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Fresh baked bread, kiwifruit, red grapes, milk chocolate, whipped cream, marshmallows, hints of milk. 
Finish: Medium. Milk, milk chocolate, whipped cream, raisins. 

Comments: 

Creamy and sweet, lots of cereal along with the fruity notes. I like this style of American whisky, lots of complexity, multi-layered yet distinct. Well crafted stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Michter’s Single Barrel Straight Rye

Michter’s Single Barrel Straight Rye

Official bottling 
Single rye - Kentucky 

Amber red
42.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, raisins, brown sugar, brown paper, butterscotch, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Brown paper, black pepper, butterscotch, milk chocolate, honey, hints of cream. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, brown paper, black pepper, milk chocolate, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

Batch L22C992. Sweet and creamy, lots of classic bourbon and rye notes. Not too spicy, and very approachable. A bit low on the complexity side though.

Verdict:

I like this.

Michter’s Single Barrel 10yo Bourbon

Michter’s Single Barrel 10yo Bourbon 

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Dark amber
47.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, honey, vanilla, nutmeg, cream, hints of black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, thickens slightly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Marshmallows, vanilla, butter, nutmeg, butterscotch, hints of strawberry jam. 
Finish: Short. Butterscotch, strawberry jam, black tea, cream. 

Comments: 

Quite a decent bourbon, very rich and buttery. There’s a jammy note at the end that makes it delicious. Aged Michter’s, it seems, is well worth seeking out.

Verdict:

I like this.

Michter’s US*1 Sour Mash

Michter’s US*1 Sour Mash

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Copper
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconut, honey, butter, orange peel, black pepper, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, cool, loosens slightly.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Butter, honey, black tea, cola nut, brown paper, pear drops, hints of bananas.  
Finish: Long. Butter, honey, coconut, pears. 

Comments: 

Very buttery and bitter. More complexity than your usual bourbon, with some alluring pear drop notes. Quite a surprise, I’m interested to see what else comes out of their Shively distillery and, in the future, Fort Nelson.

Verdict:

I like this.

Michter's Bourbon US*1 Small Batch

Michter's Bourbon US*1 Small Batch

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Red
45.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, coconuts, honey, strawberries, ink, hints of brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting: Sweet. Coconuts, honey, orange peel, bananas, toast, brown paper. 
Finish: Long. Strawberries, toast, honey, orange peel, hints of dates. 

Comments: 

Sourced spirit from an unknown distillery, aged in new charred oak barrels by a famous old brand. This is unusual bourbon; not too bananary, yet fruity and coconutty. On the tongue, a very delicious, interesting toasty note. Sweet in the finish, almost cloyingly so. Rather enjoyable, especially after a good dinner.

Verdict:

I like this.