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: 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: 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: 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 Castle & Key 2021 Batch 1 Rye Whiskey (101 Proof) Notes:  Earlier this summer I was blessed with a private tour of the old E.H. Taylor distillery renovated by Castle & Key distillery. It was an amazing experience and I was equally excited to sample all 3 of the rye whiskeys they had released to date. This bottle was purchased on site at the conclusion of the tour and tastings, my favorite of the 3 available at the time... Fair Bottle Value:  $45 (price paid : $35) Color:  medium dark amber Nose: bubblegum, rye spice, grape, banana & oak Palate:  spicy rye kicks things off with additional cracked black peppercorn heat, oak, cherry, vanilla Finish: med / long : oak, caramel, cherry, menthol Rating:  4.5/5 Recommend:  Yes : I love this rye for the all around complexity it offers. The nose is a complete rollercoaster. Thr palate is simple, quickly transforming into a power...

     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...

   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 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