Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Elijah Craig 12 Yr. BP Batch #A121 (123.6 Proof) Some have called this the Stagg Jr. killer? I say no, but only because of profile. This is an INCREDIBLE 12 Year bourbon that is typically obtainable at MSRP (or slightly over) in most markets. It is generally more available than Stagg Jr. For that reason, I call this a definite winner and well worth purchasing for any barrel proof enthusiast!   Notes:  Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Ky. creates an amazing, uncut, unfiltered barrel proof release in the ECBP series 3 times yearly. No collection should be without one of these releases each year IMHO. See below for the WHY... Fair Bottle Value:  $75 (price paid : $65) Color: dark cherry amber Nose:  rich oak char, leather, clove, caramel & vanilla pudding Palate:  oily : cinnamon, vanilla, molasses, apple peel Finish:  Long : Oak, vanilla, maple syrup fading to a medium / dry oak and orange peel that hangs and

    Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Ever wonder what Buffalo Trace Bourbon tastes like if it ages another 6 years inside the barrel, under strict conditions, solely for the specific flavor profile leading to Stagg Jr.? This is it! My understanding is that Eagle Rare is still a single barrel product, but cannot be labeled as such due to the distillery not flushing lines out at each barrel change. I would love to have an official verification of this from the distillery, but will not hold my breath. As they say... most tales are born of legend and legends are born of some truth. This review is based on one bottle "neck pour" from a 2021 batch picked up directly at the Buffalo Trace Distillery this summer. Eagle Rare 10 Yr Bourbon (90 Proof ) Notes:  For me, Eagle Rare has always had the best notes, flavor and experience from the initial bottle opening. After a few weeks and months it tends to mellow a little too much and will lose some of the f

  Bull Run Barrel Strength 12Yr Batch #18 (115 Proof ) https://bullrundistillery.com/spirits/barrel-strength-bourbon Notes:  Bull Run Distilling Co.  Fair Bottle Value:  $65 Color:  dark honey Nose:  complex : smokey   oak, molasses, leather, honey, praline, caramel, vanilla, tobacco, ripe white grapes Palate:  cinnamon, caramel, oak char Finish:  med-long : a nice satiny finish with hints of caramel, honey, cherry and pepper Rating:  4/5 Recommend:  Yes : The nose is very complex on this bottle with lingering aromas that project out of the glass and into the room. Palate and finish are nice, but not overly complex. There is a nice aged aroma and flavor that you would expect from a 12 Yr product. It smells like a barrelhouse with old aged distillates. Opinions expressed are the personal experience and works of the author "Ike Gilbert" and are based upon the sampling of one unique bottle among many. Skol. Follow me on my social media channels: Instagram Twitter Facebook Flipbo

   Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Knob Creek SB Select ( 120 Proof  ) Notes: Freddie Noe [Sherlock's Pick  #2 Select 6/19/2020]  For my taste, I find most of the Knob Creek SB Select bourbons to be a bit more floral & clove forward on the nose and palate. These are all solid and good bourbons from the batches I have enjoyed.  This batch in particular seems to branch off from the normal Knob Creek profile and becomes a very enjoyable bourbon with peanut butter and molasses flavors that are buttery rich.  It rounds out nicely with other flavors on the palate. My bottle was opened for a few months prior to this review. Fair Bottle Value: $60 Color: dark rich amber Nose: wonderfully complex : vanilla, peanut, caramel, toffee, marshmallow, leather, tobacco and char Palate: salted peanut, molasses, butter, clove, cinnamon, brown sugar, baking spice Finish: Long : buttery warm cinnamon spice, brown sugar, oak, honey & clove Rating:  4.5/5 Recom

   Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Glenfiddich 12Yr. Single Malt Scotch Whisky (80 Proof) Notes: Extremely faint nose and aromatics, not complex or overly smokey compared to other similar price point scotch with an extremely short finish. Fair Bottle Value:  $30 Color:  very light, green tea Nose:  faint mustiness and peat smoke, vanilla, white grape Palate:  vanilla, oak Finish: short : white pepper, apricot Rating:  3/5 Recommend:  No : This scotch whisky is very easy to drink, there is little if any hug due to the lower proof of the bottle. It is too mellow for my liking with a very sweet, yet earthy, mouth feel. The musty aroma I picked up from the nose carries over to the palate. This would likely be appealing to new scotch drinkers who find the hug and burn of bourbon too harsh. Depending on the individuals  preferences, the ease of drinking would likely compensate for any imbalance between the sweetness and musk of the nose and palate. Opinions

  Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Smoke Wagon Straight Bourbon (92.5 Proof) Notes: Las Vegas Nevada H&C Distilling Co. sourced from MGP  Fair Bottle Value: $40 Color:  dark honey Nose: sweet corn, cigar wrapper, caramel, vanilla, raisin & brown sugar Palate: oily caramel, corn syrup, red apple, toffee, molasses Finish: Medium Long : excellent balance of vanilla, tobacco, oak char, fading into cinnamon and vanilla Rating: 4.5/5 Recommend: Yes : those who enjoy the oak char, smokey profiles of Jack Daniels Single Barrel Gold Label Selections 130+ proof, Stagg Jr. and Chattanooga 111 Cask Proof will find this a terrific, smoothly balanced lower proof similar profile and an easy drinker Opinions expressed are the personal experience and works of the author "Ike Gilbert" and are based upon the sampling of one unique bottle among many. Skol. Follow me on my social media channels: Instagram Twitter Facebook Flipboard © 2021 Ike Gilbert

Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com KENTUCKY OWL CONFISCATED BOURBON (96.4 Proof) Fair Bottle Value: $80 Color: light honey   Nose: spearmint,  clove, cherry, vanilla, lemongrass, baking spice, maple syrup Palate: terrific buttery & oily mouth feel, vanilla, molasses, maple syrup, bacon, pancake batter Finish: short to medium : vanilla pudding, oak, apple, pepper Rating: 4/5 Recommend: Yes : This is a smooth drinker but has a somewhat disappointing shorter finish considering price point. Flavor profile is akin to a very  upscale Michters or Willett product, bourbon drinkers who like those products will benefit from adding this bottle to the collection. Opinions expressed are the personal experience and works of the author "Ike Gilbert" and are based upon the sampling of one unique bottle among many. Skol. Follow me on my social media channels: Instagram Twitter Facebook Flipboard © 2021 Ike Gilbert

 https://www.instagram.com/p/CPrmrPuMFe0/ Glass from the 1887 Colonel E.H. Taylor Castle distillery.  The birthplace of modern day bourbon in Kentucky.  I was blessed with the unique priveledge last week of walking and touring this epic property that has been restored by Castle & Key distillery, managing to grab this memento and encapsulate it. It came from one of the old office buildings still standing near barrelhouse  # 2  on the property.  One of the original window panes of glass had shattered, leaving me this fragment of history for my archives. Later I stood with my good friend and our tour guide "Abigail Belknap" in the oldest standing barrelhouse in the USA that is still in use. It houses some incredible bourbon that should be a first release for this distillery. I can't wait to get a sip!  This distillery should be the first stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail for anyone planning a bourbon vacation. Much thanks to Kevin Worthington (VP Sales, Georgia) who mad

    Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com JACK DANIELS BARREL PROOF RYE TASTERS EDITION 2019 (127.6 Proof)  This is a limited offering by the Jack Daniels Distillery released only in the Tennessee market. It consists of 70% Rye, 18% Corn & 12% Barley grains. https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/whiskey/limited/tennessee-tasters-selection-barrel-proof-rye Fair Bottle Value: $40 Color: Medium Amber Nose:  Vanilla Pudding, peppercorn, barrel char & smoke  Palate: rye spice, oak, spearmint, chocolate, malt, molasses Finish: short : graham crackers, molasses & oak Rating: 4.5/5 Recommend:  Yes : Drinkers of Michter's & Knob Creek Rye should also enjoy adding this offering to their collection. Opinions expressed are the personal experience and works of the author "Ike Gilbert" and are based upon the sampling of one unique bottle among many. Skol. Follow me on my social media channels: Instagram Twitter Facebook Flipboard © 2021 Ike Gilbe

   Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com BARDSTOWN BOURBON FUSION SERIES #5 (94.9 Proof)  With a 74% corn mashbill, this blended 13, 3&4 year bourbon has a soft nose, very sweet palate and short finish https://www.bardstownbourbon.com/brands/ Fair Bottle Value: $45 Color: Honey Golden Nose:  Soft: floral forward, cloves, honey, oak char, toasted oats  Palate: sweet cane sugar, vanilla, smokey char, baking spice, banana  Finish: short : apple pie crust, banana, cinnamon, sweet tea Rating: 3.8/5 Recommend:  Yes : Drinkers of Willett Pot Still Reserve & Knob Creek should also enjoy adding this bourbon to their collection. Opinions expressed are the personal experience and works of the author "Ike Gilbert" and are based upon the sampling of one unique bottle among many. Skol. Follow me on my social media channels: Instagram Twitter Facebook Flipboard © 2021 Ike Gilbert

  Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Bourbon Tasting Notes / Review George T Stagg 2020 (130.4 Proof) https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/stagg/george-t-stagg.html George T. Stagg is a highly sought after bourbon release from Buffalo Trace Distillery. This high proof release is very difficult to find and obtain at reasonable prices. For many years it has been renowned for the ultimate in rich flavor, robust and complicated aromas and exceptional finish. To date, the 2014 release of G.T. Stagg at a whopping 144.1 proof is the most memorable and flavorful bourbon I have been blessed with experiencing. It is still the bottle of bourbon that all others should aspire to imitate in my opinion. With that said, I was very unimpressed last week when I finally obtained a pour of the 2020 release at 130.4 proof. There are so many other bourbons that can easily be obtained over the Stagg release which completely dominate this giant today. If you were a