Tasting Notes

Early Times 354 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof:

80

Distillery:

Brown-Forman

Appearance:

Rich amber.

Aroma:

Spicy with sweet fruit, fresh oak and delicate corn notes underscored by a layer of caramel and vanilla.

Taste:

A lively entry with spice, caramel and vanilla that melt into a mixture of fresh and dried fruit notes.

Finish:

Rich, balanced between dry and sweet fading quickly.

Early Times Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey _ Brown Label

Proof:

80

Distillery:

Brown-Forman

Appearance:

Rich Umber.

Aroma:

Chocolate, liqueur-like with vanilla notes.

Taste:

Soft fruit and ripe berries, hints of sweet coffee, tobacco and vanilla.

Finish:

Rich, balanced between dry and sweet fading quickly.

Early Times Old Style Kentucky Whiskey

Proof:

80

Distillery:

Brown-Forman

Appearance:

Burnt orange amber.

Aroma:

Soft caramel with a faint sweet corn taste, oak and vanilla notes linger in its depths.

Taste:

Soft, mild with very light oak, subtle sweetness and herbal grass notes.

Finish:

Mild, slightly dry apple peel freshness lingers on.

Evan Williams 1783

Proof:

86

Distillery:

Heaven Hill

Appearance:

New honey

Aroma:

Light, subtle floral and fruity scents and a hint of vanilla

Taste:

Semi-sweet. Light caramel tastes as well as vanilla bean, honey and oak flavors

Finish:

Medium to long, and oh so warm and soothing.

Evan Williams Black Label

Proof:

86

Distillery:

Heaven Hill

Appearance:

Medium Amber

Aroma:

Deep vanilla nose with hints of berries and mint

Taste:

Nice balance of honeyed vanilla, caramel, and soft oak

Finish:

Medium to long

Henry McKenna Single Barrel

Age:

10 years

Proof:

100

Distillery:

Heaven Hill

Appearance:

Warm amber

Aroma:

Nice balance of vanilla, caramel, oak, and a light herbaceous note in the background.

Taste:

Good balance of sharp spices, honey and sweetness, and a touch of mint.

Finish:

Very spicy.

Jim Beam Black Label

Age:

8 years

Proof:

86

Distillery:

Jim Beam

Appearance:

Eight years of aging make for a complex, sophisticated taste. Mixes well in cocktails. A premium Bourbon with a more flavorful character. A must-have for every at-home bar.

Aroma:

Toffee and tobacco.

Taste:

Starts you off with a semisweet beginning, and notes of oak grow stronger as you go. Subtle toasted grains follow.

Finish:

Elegant, long, subtly flavored. Smooth.

Jim Beam White Label

Age:

4 years

Proof:

80

Distillery:

Jim Beam

Appearance:

The standard-bearer of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Aged twice as long as it has to. Great for mixing with cocktails and a great introduction to Bourbon Whiskey. The Bourbon to keep on hand for any and all occasions.

Aroma:

Vanilla and caramel notes.

Taste:

Opens sweet, with light caramel and vanilla flavors and, later, a slight woody char.

Finish:

Long, crisp, and clean, with a gentle snap.

Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

Proof:

86

Distillery:

Brown-Forman

Appearance:

Reddish burnt orange.

Aroma:

Rich vanilla and chocolate caramel, complex and mature soft soft fruit medley with hints of citrus and traces of malt.

Taste:

Complex, sharp, dry chocolate-cocoa swings into a sweet, sappy oak, rich harvest corn and sun-dried hay. Hints of fruit linger in the background.

Finish:

Sweet, light then quickly drying.

Old Forester Signature Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

Proof:

100

Distillery:

Brown-Forman

Appearance:

A bright, dense caramel toffee.

Aroma:

Sweet coffee laced with chocolate, creamy vanilla and rich warmed oak take you right into the barrelhouse.

Taste:

Ripe apple and other sweet fruit, complex oak.

Finish:

Sweet; light with hints of oak and apple that linger a bit.

Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye

Age:

6 years

Proof:

90

Distillery:

Wild Turkey

Taste:

Rich, Spicy and complex

Finish:

Uniquely smooth.

Very Special Old Fitzgerald

Age:

12 years

Proof:

90

Distillery:

Heaven Hill

Appearance:

Deep copper

Aroma:

Rich and fruity with lots of berries

Taste:

Full bodied with a touch of vanilla, some butterscotch, lots of deep, dark fruits, yet balanced with leather and tobacco

Finish:

Long, warm and soothing

Wild Turkey American Honey

Proof:

71

Distillery:

Wild Turkey

Appearance:

Deep golden hue

Aroma:

Ripe citrus and honey

Taste:

Sweet honey & caramel with bourbon notes

Finish:

Warm feeling of sweet honey with a kick

Wild Turkey Bourbon 101

Age:

6-8 years

Proof:

101

Distillery:

Wild Turkey

Appearance:

Deep rich amber

Aroma:

Gentle yet rich, with deep vanilla and oak along with a complex mixture featuring a slight hint of oranges and toffee.

Taste:

Explosion of vanilla, taste of caramel, notes of honey, brown sugar and hint of tobacco

Finish:

Extremely long, deep and smooth with a recognizable burn

Wild Turkey Bourbon 81

Age:

6-8 years

Proof:

81

Distillery:

Wild Turkey

Appearance:

Rich amber

Aroma:

Fruity, vanilla, slightly smoky

Taste:

Big spicy vanilla notes. Hints of Rye toast. Light smoky taste

Finish:

Long, supple, and clean

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel

Proof:

101

Distillery:

Wild Turkey

Appearance:

Rich amber

Aroma:

Seductive, complex

Taste:

Full, round body layered with rich flavors of vanilla, almond and honey

Finish:

Long, lingering finish completely fills the mouth

Wild Turkey Rye

Age:

4-5 years

Proof:

81

Distillery:

Wild Turkey

Appearance:

Deep brown with golden highlights

Aroma:

Rich balanced aroma of vanilla and spice

Taste:

Big spicy vanilla notes. Hints of Rye toast. Light smoky taste

Finish:

Lingering overtones of caramel and vanilla

Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select

Distillery:

Woodford Reserve Distillery (Brown-Forman)

Appearance:

Soft, clear toffee

Aroma:

Strong, powerful vanilla overlays a rich fruit medley, sweet cocoa and a dash of black pepper spice

Taste:

A seesaw of subtle, sweet crème brûlée and apricot tart

Finish:

Clean, pleasantly sweet, cooling and refreshing

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Distillery:

Woodford Reserve Distillery (Brown-Forman)

Appearance:

Dark orange brown

Aroma:

Soft, sweet oak character with rich notes of honey, spice and apple fruit

Taste:

Subtly sweet notes of chocolate, honey and marzipan atop a layer of cinnamon and spiced apple

Finish:

Warm and creamy with baked apple fruit character lingering on

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

Distillery:

Brown-Forman

Taste:

*As a special yearly release, tasting notes and proof may vary year to year

Four Roses Single Barrel

Distillery:

Four Roses Distillery

Appearance:

N/A

Aroma:

Dried spice, pear, coco, maple syrup

Taste:

Hints of ripe plum and cherries, robust

Finish:

Smooth, rich finish

Four Roses Small Batch

Distillery:

Four Roses Distillery

Appearance:

N/A

Aroma:

Rich fruit, hints of oak and caramel

Taste:

Rich, creamy, ripened red berries

Finish:

More fruit, smooth, long finish

Four Roses Bourbon

Distillery:

Four Roses Distillery

Appearance:

N/A

Aroma:

Balance of subtle fruit and spices

Taste:

Crisp fruit, caramel, vibrant spice

Finish:

Mellow, long and pleasant

Russell’s Reserve Small Batch 10 Year

Distillery:

Wild Turkey Distillery

Appearance:

Deep amber

Aroma:

Rich in vanilla, oak, toffee and a touch of old leather

Taste:

Rich and creamy, toffee, vanilla

Finish:

N/A

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel

Distillery:

Wild Turkey Distillery

Appearance:

N/A

Aroma:

N/A

Taste:

Big vanilla flavor with hints of orange and licorice, non-chill filtered leaves more natural flavor

Finish:

Rich, long finish

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Distillery:

Wild Turkey Distillery

Appearance:

Deep, rich amber

Aroma:

Full of spring flowers with a touch of black pepper and almonds mixed with layers of honey and dates

Taste:

Medium to full body with remarkably smooth palate; very assertive, with hints of light oranges and mint and tones of sweet tobacco

Finish:

Long, warm and nutty finish lingering on the mouth with hints of peppers and well-toasted wheat bread

Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey

Distillery:

Diageo, Bulleit Distilling Company

Appearance:

Russet, medium amber, copper gold

Aroma:

Oak, vanilla, honey, spice

Taste:

Oaky, smokey and smooth with a rush of vanilla

Finish:

Long, dry, smooth sultry finish with a slight hint of cherry; Leather and tobacco leaf, some tannins in the finish

Bulleit Rye Small Batch American Whiskey

Distillery:

Diageo, Bulleit Distilling Company

Appearance:

Topaz, medium amber, mahogany

Aroma:

Biscuit, spice (allspice, sage, a hint of caraway), white raisins and a slight hint of dried apricot

Taste:

A smooth entry, bolstered by sweet tones of maple and oak and a light fruity sweetness

Finish:

Finishes long, satin smoothness, woody/resiny, light toffee with no burn on the throat; the dried fruit elements come back, adding flair; spices and cinnamon give an added zest

Basil Hayden’s

Distillery:

Jim Beam Distillery

Appearance:

Golden amber

Aroma:

Spice, tea, hint of pepper­mint

Taste:

Spicy, peppery, honey, light-bodied, gentle bite

Finish:

Dry, clean, brief

Baker’s

Distillery:

Jim Beam Distillery

Appearance:

Warm amber, tawny, nut brown

Aroma:

Fruit, vanilla, caramel

Taste:

Toasted nuts, fruit, vanilla, silky texture

Finish:

Sweet, smooth, medium-long

Knob Creek

Distillery:

Jim Beam Distillery

Appearance:

Copper to medium amber

Aroma:

Toasted nuts, grain oak

Taste:

Rich, sweet, woody, full-bodied, almost fruity

Finish:

Long, rich and glowing

Booker’s

Distillery:

Jim Beam Distillery

Appearance:

Deep, rich, smoky amber

Aroma:

Strong vanilla and caramel, as well as charred oak

Taste:

Intense, fruit, tannin, tobacco

Finish:

Clean, long, intense

Maker’s Mark

Distillery:

Maker's Mark Distillery

Appearance:

Rich and brilliant – see-through amber, but with a flame orange glint that tells of the warmth to come

Aroma:

Full, yet delicate; well-rounded; possessing a distinctive caramel aroma of the charred oak with a hint of vanilla; pleasant and inviting

Taste:

Rich in flavor, yet soft on the palate with the taste moved forward on the tongue where you taste "sweet" with very little sour notes on the side

Finish:

Refreshing and pleasant with lingering accents of caramel and vanilla flavors

Maker’s 46

Distillery:

Maker's Mark Distillery

Appearance:

Rich and brilliant – see-through amber, but with a flame orange glint that tells of the warmth to come (*Available only at the distillery)

Aroma:

Full, yet delicate; well-rounded; possessing a distinctive caramel aroma of the charred oak with a hint of vanilla; pleasant and inviting

Taste:

Rich in flavor, yet soft on the palate with the taste moved forward on the tongue where you taste "sweet" with very little sour notes on the side

Finish:

Refreshing and pleasant with lingering accents of caramel and vanilla flavors

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve

Distillery:

Jim Beam Distillery

Appearance:

Our darkest and deepest amber and henna color

Aroma:

Robust vanilla and caramel notes; slightly smoky

Taste:

Deep and complex flavors of vanilla, nuts and oak

Finish:

Long and full; perfect for easygoing sipping

Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2003

Distillery:

Heaven Hill Distilleries

Appearance:

Delicate amber gold

Aroma:

Spicy and dry with notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and oak

Taste:

Lush and spicy; oak with honey, apple and orange notes

Finish:

Long, hints of cinnamon, vanilla and oak

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old

Distillery:

Heaven Hill Distilleries

Appearance:

Burnished copper

Aroma:

The aromas have a light touch, offering honey, caramel and cocoa in a straightforward, confident balance

Taste:

The flavors follow on the palate, with a full, spicy finish that explodes with simple pleasure.

Finish:

Smooth, warm and comfortable, this is a sweet sipping whiskey that’s best in a snifter

Parker’s Heritage Collection

Distillery:

Heaven Hill Distilleries

Appearance:

Deep topaz/bronze

Aroma:

Dried fruits, oaky caramel, spicy char

Taste:

Smoky molasses, honeyed nougat and cinnamon spices

Finish:

Long, refined, oily licorice and buttery

Rittenhouse Rye

Distillery:

Heaven Hill Distilleries

Willett Pot Still Reserve

Distillery:

Willett Distillery

Appearance:

Mahogany

Aroma:

Floral notes--jasmine and orange blossoms, ginger, cinnamon, lots of bananas when water is added

Taste:

Lemon, black tea, butterscotch, citrus, nutty, honey; with water added, bananas and milk chocolate

Finish:

Medium; eucalyptus, herbal, rye, spicy, pepper, barber’s shop; with water added, light toffee & pecans