View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mr. Whiskey (@whiskeynomics101)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mr. Whiskey (@whiskeynomics101)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mr. Whiskey (@whiskeynomics101)

Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Elijah Craig 12 Yr. BP Batch #C921 (120.2 Proof) Another INCREDIBLE 12 Year bourbon release by Elijah Craig to finish out 2021.  This is well worth purchasing for any barrel proof enthusiast. Rare, balanced and beautiful! Notes:  Heaven Hill Distillery uncut, unfiltered barrel proof release no.3 2021 Fair Bottle Value:  $90 (price paid : $100) Color:  dark honey amber Nose: cloves, rosebud, toffee, oak char, leather, caramel, cinnamon & vanilla Palate:  spicy & oily : peppercorn, vanilla, caramel and ripe red apple peel Finish:  Long : Vanilla, maple syrup, brown sugar & caramel with just enough heat to linger and hold the flavor together Rating:  4.5/5 Recommend:  Yes : Another great buy for quality and value. A little more floral forward than the current Larceny Barrel Proof in profile (won heads up in my blind vs. ECBP), but very well balanced and a joy to...

Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Product: Joseph Magnus Finished Bourbon Whiskey (Sherry & Cogniac Casked) Proof:      100 Notes: The website for Joseph A Magnus may have recommendations for mixing cocktails, but I would strongly advise against that! You need to appreciate this bourbon "neat" and sip slowly savoring every last droppeddy drip ;) Fair Bottle Value:  $ 100 Color: dark amber Nose:  beautiful fruit forward and musty rich leather, tobacco, licorice, oak, dark cherry, vanilla Palate:  waxy cherry cordial, vanilla, sweet oak, brown sugar Finish: long :  beautiful oily long finish, cherry, oak, plum, vanilla, maple syrup Rating:  5/5 Recommend: Yes : The fans of the Old Forrester lineup, Stagg Jr. or Wild Turkey Rare Breed should give this finished bourbon whiskey a ride. 100 proof is an easy sipper for anyone who prefers the higher octane of a Stagg or RB, but all of the flavor still shines throu...

  Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Product: Buffalo Trace Proof:      95 Notes: A beautiful daily drinker at 95 proof that everyone will enjoy. This is the flagship of the Buffalo Trace Distillery, possibly the best entry level bourbon available under $30 Fair Bottle Value:  $30 (price paid $23) Color: Amber Honey Nose: subtle complexity :  leather, tobacco, cherry, oak, honey, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, grape Palate:  very sweet oak, vanilla, brown sugar, caramel Finish: short / medium : the palate transfers smoothly into the finish with a lingering mile peppercorn and leathery oak Rating:  5/5 Recommend:  Yes : If you are able to readily find this product under $30, you are likely sipping some very often. It should at least be a staple on the home bar shelf where available. Fans of Old Forester, Bulliet, Wild Turkey 101 should have a  bottle. If you don't, keep your eye out for it! Opinions expresse...

  Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Product: Garrison Brothers Small Batch 94 proof Notes: I expected the small batch to hit harder considering the $90 pricetag, but it does go down very nicely. CONS : not overly complex, drinks like a youthful 3-4 yr bourbon PROS : Well balanced with a great nose. Everything just works together beautifully in the glass from a balance perspective, you taste what you actually smell and it all transitions nicely while drinking. Fair Bottle Value:  $55 (MSRP: $85) Color: amber Nose: tobacco, cherry, smokey oak, brown sugar, bananna Palate: cherry, oak, vanilla Finish: medium : cherry, oak, hint of pepper tapers down quickly with a nice coat to the roof and middle of tongue Rating: 4/5 Recommend : Yes : If dollars aren't an obstacle for your budget, this is abeautiful bottle design and an easy sipping small batch that is done well. If you can't get this served at a local bar, you will likely appreciate the cra...

  Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Product: Blanton's Boubon WH-H Barrel #424 Rick #9 B194 Proof:      93 Notes: This bottle has had plenty of time to open up completely for this review, nearly a full year! I was somewhat underwhelmed when I gave it an honest evaluation last year in a private setting. At roughly the same proof as Buffalo Trace, one would expect a big step up in flavor and finish, and that it does. I remember having this a few times in the last 15 years and typically viewed it as a nice bourbon after a surf and turf dinner. Who would ever think that this was going to become such a coveted bottle that folks would literally camp out on the sidewalks for to have a shot of puchasing the next day? This year, I was a bit more enthusiastic when I found another bottle for $80 and decided to give it another shot. Gotta admit, this bottle does look good on the dancefloor ;) Fair Bottle Value:  $70 [Price paid $80] Color: L...

  Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Product: Old Tub by Jim Beam Distillery Proof:   100 Notes: Surprising flavors in a sub $25 bottle! Fair Bottle Value:  $22 Color: medium honey Nose: oak, char, caramel, vanilla  Palate:  vanilla, caramel, peppercorn Finish: short / medium : caramel, pepper, oak, leather Rating:  3.5/5 Recommend:  Yes : There are not many $20 bottles on the market that can work as a good starting point for the casual or bourbon beginner, I can see where this would easily sit in a collection as a daily quick sipper for many folks. There is nothing complex, just simple, traditional, sweet and refreshing notes and flavor to drink. Well done. 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 How I ranked these head to head 1-4: (Transitioning between each pour individually, and completely through all stages before moving to the next. The use of tonic water to clear my palate respectively - something I highly recommend for any tasting or comparison of bourbons)  #1 -  Dovetail  124.16 Proof Fair Bottle Value: $65 (Current Retail Avg $80) Color: med dark honey Nose: sea salt, oak, caramel Palate: caramel, honey, vanilla Finish: med : oak, vanilla, cinnamon, salted caramel Rating: 4.5/5 Recommend: Yes : This is a purchase I don't think you will regret adding into your collection, even at the higher $80 current retail. I would like to see a slightly longer finish, however the entire experience of a caramel sea salt nose that transitions well throughout the palate and finish is definitely unique. If you are a fan of Wild Turkey Rare Breed, you will really appreciate this offering! ------------------...

   Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Product: Four Roses SiB [HW-13*3H] Proof:      100 Notes: The Four Roses SiB batches have a 7-9 yr average barrel age and are a good value if you are a bourbon enthusiast looking for single barrel uniqueness. The selection process at Four Roses has been  stable in the last 2 years IMO, making it rare to get a bottle that does not live up to expected standards. Flavor profile of a SiB will normally have some changes from bottle to bottle. This review is based on Warehouse HW, barrel #13-3H which I picked up from the distillery a few months ago visiting Kentucky. Fair Bottle Value:  $45 / MSRP $40 Color: Medium / Dark Honey Nose: chocolate, oak, cloves, molasses, cherry Palate:  vanilla pudding, molasses, cloves Finish: medium : cherry, peppercorns, oak Rating:  5/5 Recommend:  Yes : There is a good reason why this SiB has been consistently winning awards since 2008...

   Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Product: Old Forester 1910 Proof:  93 Notes:  The Old Forester lineup continues to amaze and prove itself as one of the most solid distilleries today, producing exceptional bourbon no matter the label they spin on it! Fair Bottle Value:  $70 (price paid $57) Color:  Dark Caramel Nose: Fantastic :  cherry cream cheese pie, vanilla wafers, oak, cigar tobacco, rich leather, graham cracker crust, peanut butter cups.  This is "Wisdom In A Glass", perfection was attained in the complexity of aromas in price point. There are few bourbons today that are this rich and complex to smell.  Palate:  Vanilla pudding, oak, cherry, pie crust, campfire coffee and smores Finish: Long :  oak, vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon toast Rating:  5/5 Recommend:  Yes : Don't wait on this purchase, if you see this on the shelf go put it in the cart and just checkout now....

   Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Product: Southern Bourbon Whiskey | MGP Sourced Proof:    95  Notes: Small town distillery in Americus, Georgia brings a surprisingly complex 4+yr sipper. At 95 proof there is little burn hug and lots of character. The high corn mashbill brings sweet oak, brown sugar and vanilla quickly to the forefront...  Fair Bottle Value:  $45 (retail local $35) Color: Honey Caramel Nose: Surprisingly complex for a 4 yr. old product : Butterscotch, toffee, oak, toasted butter bread, popcorn, brown sugar Palate:  oak, brown sugar, vanilla pudding, cinnamon Finish: med : oak, butterscotch, vanilla Rating:  4/5 Recommend:  Yes : The fact that this bottle can be obtained locally for around $35 makes it an easy score for anyone dabbling into the craft distillery marketplace. Drinkers who enjoy the characteristics of Weller Special Reserve, Old Forester 86 and Evan Williams SiB selec...

     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...

    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 t...

  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 ...

   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 ...

   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 swe...

  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 G...

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