As the senior managing editor of Outsider, I regularly wrote in-depth Whiskey/Bourbon Reviews and published interviews with distillers.
A number of my reviews are below. Click on the images for the full reviews.
Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Col. E.H. Old Taylor Single Barrel opens with light ethanol (smells higher proof than 100), followed by the decadent scent of homemade whipping cream—with plenty of rich vanilla. Brown sugar and toasted oak follow. A deeper nosedive yields sweet, dark stone fruit—plum and cherry—followed by a hint of citrus in the form of a baked lemon loaf. Letting it breathe really unleashes the stone fruit. Continue…
W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B.
The first whiff of Weller C.Y.P.B. is a sweet treat, notably butterscotch and rich oak char, with nary a hint of alcohol. A deeper nosedive yields floral scents of fruit, namely ripe cherry with a bit of peach. Then there’s a refreshing hint of grapefruit zest, before sweet tobacco caps the nose. Continue…
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
I usually don’t focus too much on a bourbon’s color (in the sense of trying to pinpoint the exact shade), but this batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a stunning deep amber that warrants a mention. If you “drink” with your eyes first, this is a beaut. On to the nose, which opens with—wow! Warm, dark caramel hides any semblance of a high-proof sniff. There’s just a hint of light alcohol. There’s also a waft of rich oak and fresh-cut pine sawdust, like you’re strolling through a lumber yard with nary a care. A deeper dive yields toasted marshmallow and dark chocolate. We’ve got s’mores on the nose. Continue…
Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Strength
Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Proof opens with medium alcohol and warm oak. There’s no doubt a high-proof sip is on the way, but the proof heat is so balanced by the sweetness of honey, candied pecans, and fresh-baked fruit cobbler—a bit of peach and cherry (I always get cherry from Old Forester). Continue…
Larceny Barrel Proof A123
On the palate, it’s immediate cola—reminiscent of Dr. Pepper. There’s even a little fizz that migrates to the nostrils. The cocoa powder and raspberry from the nose coalesce with baking spices into a chocolate-raspberry cookie (perhaps the new Girl Scout Cookie, Raspberry Rally?). And then there’s definite cinnamon sweetness and heat in the form of Hot Tamales candy, with some charred caramel. Continue…
Old Grand-Dad 114
Old Grand-Dad 114 opens with medium-light alcohol on the nose, followed by the sweetness of fresh-baked shortcake—vanilla, baking spices (nutmeg and cinnamon), and a hint of strawberry. A deeper nosedive yields sweet tobacco and rye spice. Continue…