McKenna, Woodford Reserve, Sazerac, Blanton’s

I admit, we don’t attempt sufficient American whiskey. It’s simply that we don’t get an enormous a part of the releases right here in Europe, and impartial bottlers don’t appear to have a lot curiosity to dive into this class (they like cognac, armagnac, Irish whiskey…). Let’s take a small step and put together this line-up of 5 whiskeys (largely bourbons) with various worth tags.

Henry McKenna is made by Heaven Hill. This Irishman got here to America in 1837 and settled in Kentucky. The whiskey shares the identical mashbill as many different Heaven Hill manufacturers (78% corn with 12% malt and 10% rye).

Henry McKenna – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (40%, OB +/- 2022)

Nostril: pretty gentle, totally on citrusy aromas and inexperienced apple at first. Lemon peels blended with minty pinewood. Freshly opened Ikea pack. Then vanilla and a few dusty notes, in addition to some bitter berry. Later extra traditional caramel aromas come out.

Mouth: nonetheless lighter and a bit drier than I anticipated. Lemons and pecan nuts, adopted by caramel and maize sweetness. Some white pepper, caraway seeds and nutmeg, once more exhibiting a pine notice. The dusty cardboard notice is fairly loud as properly.

End: quick, with cinnamon and oak char earlier than it folds right down to a peppery notice.

We began on the decrease finish, in fact. Arduous to get in Europe (I discovered it at The Whisky Change) however not likely price contemplating in case you’re in search of a sipping whiskey. Too plankish, there are higher choices for my part.

The fourth installment within the Masters’ Assortment from Woodford Reserve was a historic throwback, reverting to the pre-1838 observe of creating whiskey with a candy mash as an alternative of the bitter mash method. It entails setting again a portion of the earlier fermented batch and utilizing it as a starter.

Woodford Reserve – 1838 Candy Mash (43,2%, OB ‘Masters Assortment’ 2007)

Nostril: fairly inviting. There’s juicy fruit, like apricots and bitter berries, with hints of aniseed, cigar containers and hints of floral honey. This floral component is taken additional, with some orange blossom and aromatic leather-based. Then walnuts, maple syrup and oil paint as properly.

Mouth: candy and floral begin (lokum), blended with metallic notes, one thing of horchata and pear yoghurt. Vanilla, cinnamon and buttery corn. Then burnt caramel and lightweight varnished notes once more.

End: surprisingly quick. Surprisingly bitter too. Solely clove, white pepper and wooden staying.

I used to be intruiged by the fragrant nostril, however after that it goes downhill. Fascinating experiment however possibly not completely profitable. Inferior to I hoped. Rating: 83/100

Sazerac 18 yo – Kentucky Straight Rye (45%, OB ‘Vintage Assortment’ Summer season 2018)

Nostril: mint leaves, somewhat cardamom and hints of strawberry sweet canes. Some candied pears, honey and a delicate dustiness from the rye spice. Gentle floral touches (violets?) in opposition to a background of bready notes, liquorice, one thing coppery and burnt banana cake.

Mouth: a pleasant texture, and loads of rye spices now (greater than the nostril steered). Extra breads (particularly pumpernickel), cinnamon powder and nutmeg, in addition to minty notes and a few type of aromatic vanilla. Leather-based and hints of chocolate and black tea too.

End: lengthy, on all-spice, cinnamon and tobacco leaves. The aftertaste has numerous moist earthy notes.

A pleasant mixture of dry spice and rye flavours that I didn’t get earlier than (and may’t in down completely). The earthiness and complexity are wonderful. A pleasant enlargement of my horizon, however € 2000+, actually? Rating: 88/100

The subsequent one is a bit odd: it’s a Tennessee bourbon bottled in Scotland for Whisky Picnic Bar in Taiwan. A number of German bottlers like The Whisky Company and Malts of Scotland launched very related 2011 bourbons and a few of them pointed in direction of Cascade Hole (George Dickel). I’m undecided this comes from the identical supply, however you by no means know.

Tennessee Bourbon 10 yo 2011 (47,9%, Whisky Picnic Bar 2022, barrel, 102 btl.)

Nostril: fairly a contemporary begin, with hints of peppermint, juniper and bitter orange earlier than it strikes in direction of gentle maple syrup and vanilla waffles. Lemon cake, corn sweetness, even some pineapple.