Drinks by the Dram "Bourbon and American Whiskey Advent Calendar" from Master of Malt

I‘d like to thanks the folks at Master of Malt for sending this to me with no strings attached.

IMAGE: The front cover of the Master of Malt Bourbon and American Whiskey Advent calendar, featuring a burning barrel. Inset phtos of the 30cl wax sealed bottles.

It’s Friday, and I’m here, so that must mean it’s time for another bonus post! This week, we’re diving into the Drinks by the Dram Bourbon and American Whiskey Advent Calendar from Masters of Malt. This was sent to me in celebration of the fact that Masters of Malt is finally able to ship to the United States again.

The last time we talked about Masters of Malt was back in 2018, just before they had to stop shipping to the U.S. At that time, I had a fantastic experience with them. They were a great resource for purchasing bourbons that were available in Europe but unavailable stateside. I took a quick look at their site now, and while they do have a few items I can’t get in Minnesota, it’s probably not quite enough to justify the cost of international shipping. However, their Drinks by the Dram program still stands out—it lets you purchase 30 mL (about 1 ounce) sample bottles of spirits you might not otherwise have access to. If you want to try a variety of spirits but don’t want to commit to a bunch of full bottles, this is definitely something to consider. Personally, I don't like Scotch so I skip it and stick to bourbons, other whiskeys, or even brandies.

Which brings us to the Advent calendars. Master of Malt offers a wide range of them—more than I could possibly list here. They’ve got calendars for gin, rum, Scotch, vodka, and even niche options like Peaty Whisky or Spiced Rum. Prices range from $52 to $260, depending on the spirit category and how many days your calendar includes. You can even build your own, though let’s be honest—half the fun of an Advent calendar is the surprise!

The one I received is the Bourbon and American Whiskey Advent Calendar. It’s priced at $136.85 plus shipping, and so far, I’m having a lot of fun with it. Without giving too much away, I’ll say it’s a solid mix of widely available big-name brands, smaller niche distilleries, and even a few gems from UK independent bottlers—like a 24-year-old bourbon from That Boutique-y Whisky Company.

So, should you rush to their website and grab one for yourself? Well, that depends on your situation. For me, $137 plus international shipping is a steep price for the equivalent of 750 mL of whiskey. But if you’re looking for an awesome gift for the whiskey lover in your life? Absolutely. This is a unique and entertaining gift that would last the recipient 12 to 25 days, depending on the calendar you choose. I can think of plenty of people I’d spend that much (or more) on, and I’d grab this as a gift for them in a heartbeat.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Bib & Tucker: The Golden Spike

I’d like to thank Bib & Tucker and their PR team for providing these review samples with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Front label of a 100mL bottle of Bib & Tucker Golden Spike. The bourbon was aged 15 years and was bottled at 100.8 proof. The bottle sits on a wooden surface.

Date night tonight, so we’re going to keep it short. I mean, I don’t want to let that 16-ounce, 30-day dry-aged ribeye wait. Yes, you can be jealous; it’s going to be a nice time (thank you gift card from dog clients). Of course, once we get home, we’d be hard-pressed not to enjoy a nice after-dinner drink. And I tell you what, tonight’s bourbon from Bib & Tucker would be a good choice.

The Golden Spike is a 15-year-old, limited-edition bourbon from Bib & Tucker. It is bottled at 100.8° proof and is available for sale in Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. And of course, being Bib & Tucker, it has a fun bottle stopper, in this case, shaped like a train. But why a train, and where does the name The Golden Spike come from? Here is what the company has to say:

The first locomotive was introduced in America in 1830; just 15 years later, the first resolution was presented to Congress proposing a railroad that would stretch to the Pacific, connecting east and west. A 17.6 karat gold spike was used to complete the line connecting the intercontinental railroad, marking a transformative moment, and The Golden Spike celebrates the completion of this great achievement in American history.

Let’s see how this piece of history tastes, shall we?

Bib & Tucker: The Golden Spike 15-Year-Old Bourbon

Purchase Info: This 200 mL sample was provided at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $199.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $13.33

Details: 15 years old. 50.4% ABV. Distilled in Tennessee.

Nose: Toffee, leather, oak, and stone fruits.

Mouth: Toffee, cinnamon, cherry, oak, and leather.

Finish: Warm and medium-long with notes of stone fruits, cinnamon, oak, and a mineral note.

IMAGE: This is a tasty bourbon so it gets a smile rating.

Thoughts: This is delicious. Probably the best product from Bib & Tucker that I've had—top two at least. It reminds me of a very good Dickel release, though I’ve got no info as to the provenance of the juice other than the “Distilled in TN” on the back label. I'm a fan. I'm digging the sweetness on the mouth and the spice. The finish hangs around. It’s just very tasty.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish & Woodinville Founder’s Find Whiskey from a Bourbon Mash

I’d like to thank Woodinville Whiskey Company for providing these review samples with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Two limited-edition Woodinville whiskey bottles side by side: Founder’s Find 12-Year Whiskey (107 proof) and Sauternes Cask Finished Bourbon (105 proof), both set against a fall foliage background.

Writing this in the morning is a weird feeling. I look outside, and the fog is deep as the sun comes up. There’s coffee in my cup. I’ve finished feeding the dogs but haven’t fed myself yet. I’ve read the news, checked my email, and gotten a good start to the day. But here I am, trying to write about whiskey at a time of day when I’m normally not even thinking of it.

And why? Because I have plans. Like, outside-the-house plans. It’s okay, you can be shocked that the hermit is leaving his cave. It’s very strange for me, too. But the tattoo artist I like is in a different state, so I need to leave the house if I’m going to get more work done. So here we are: talking about two different whiskeys when I usually think about coffee.

That’s right, we’ve got another two-fer on our hands. These two whiskeys were both sent to me by the Woodinville Whiskey Company to help promote their upcoming release. If you are a Woodinville fan who was at their distillery a couple of weeks ago, you might already have tried/purchased them at their annual Harvest Release party. But if you aren’t, here is a little background info on them.

These are both limited releases. You can preorder them now on the Woodinville website. Both are over 100 proof, and both have deviated from the standard aging process in various ways. The Sauternes Cask Finish is pretty self-explanatory. Woodinville took the bourbon that they make and finished it in casks that previously held a sweet dessert wine from France. We’ve covered a few whiskeys that have used casks from this wine as a barrel finish in the past.

The Founder’s Find, though, is a little more complicated. First off, they did not distill this one; it was sourced from a distillery in Tennessee. Secondly, it isn’t a bourbon—well, at least not entirely. This is what is known as a “Whiskey from a Bourbon Mash,” which means that if it had been poured into a new, charred oak barrel, it would have been a bourbon. But in this case, the barrels weren’t new; they were reconditioned. This means that the previously used barrel was scraped clean of the char and burned again to make a new char layer. Some of the flavor of the barrel would have already been pulled from it due to the first use. The other unusual thing about this whiskey is that it’s a blend that happened partway through the aging process. About six years in, a small amount of 15-year-old bourbon that had been distilled in Indiana was added to it before it finished the last six years of its rest. Quoting the press release now:

Years ago, a group of renowned distillers proposed the use of these [reconditioned] barrels and began experimenting, only to be rebuffed by lawmakers. Which is how [Woodinville founder] Orlin uncovered this forgotten barrel in the back corner of a legendary rickhouse, patiently waiting for someone to notice and appreciate it.

So now that we’ve learned a bit about them, let’s jump into the tasting notes and see if these are any good, shall we?

Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish

Purchase Info: This sample was sent for review purposes at no cost. The suggested retail price is $69.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.67

Details: 52.5% ABV. Finished in Sauternes wine casks.

Nose: Dried grains lead off, with notes of brown sugar, molasses, and red fruit following.

Mouth: Nice, thick mouthfeel with notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, pear, and dried grains.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth, with notes of dried grains, vanilla, caramel, and a touch of both dried red fruits and fresh pears.

IMAGE: Not bad, but not for me. So it gets a neutral face.

Thoughts: I’m neutral on this one. I'd love a touch less dried grain on all aspects of this. That said, this is not a flaw but a personal preference, and by no means do I think this should keep anyone from trying it—especially since there are a lot of people who enjoy the grain-forward style of bourbon. I do find it fun, though, that the final notes to fade are "wine" notes of pear and red fruit. Thematically, that’s just about perfect for a wine-cask-finished bourbon.

Woodinville Founder's Find Whiskey from a Bourbon Mash

Purchase Info: This sample was sent for review purposes at no cost. The suggested retail price is $129.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $8.67

Details: 96% Tennessee whiskey aged for 12 years in reconditioned barrels (used and recharred) and 4% 15-year-old Indiana bourbon. 53.5% ABV.

Nose: Cinnamon, Flintstone Vitamins, and a touch of red fruit and oak.

Mouth: Caramel, cinnamon, red fruit, and oak notes follow a rich, thick mouthfeel.

Finish: Warm and long with notes of oak, leather, cinnamon, caramel, and red fruit.

Thoughts: The bottle says that the whiskey that the Woodinville founder discovered in Tennessee was "too extraordinary not to share." I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly. This may not technically be a bourbon, but it has all the notes and characteristics that you would want in one. So much so that, even though I poured a glass after receiving the sample, I didn't notice that it was a "whiskey from a bourbon mash" until I went to record the details in my tasting notes. It's damn good. Lots of "dark" flavor notes and a rich mouthfeel. Really liking it.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Larceny Barrel Proof C924 & Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924

I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Two bottles of bourbon displayed side by side on a wooden surface outdoors. The left bottle is Larceny Barrel Proof Wheated Bourbon (125.1 proof), and the right is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon (64.4% ABV).

Covering both of the recent Heaven Hill Barrel Proof releases tonight, so let’s skip the chitchat and get down to business, shall we?

C924. By now, you probably know what that means in this context, but in case you don’t, let’s define it. C denotes the release order of the calendar year: A = first, B = second, C = third. 9 is the month of the release, September being the 9th month. 24 is the year of release (2024, in case you were unaware). Both bottles we’re looking at today are the third release of the year, both released in September 2024. Easy peasy.

Let’s dig in.

Larceny Barrel Proof, C924

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided at no charge by Heaven Hill for review purposes and to showcase the new bottle design. The suggested retail price is $64.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.33

Details: 62.55% ABV. Age: 6-8 Years. Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley

Nose: Lots of vanilla and caramel with oak underneath.

Mouth: Very warm with notes of cinnamon, red fruit, vanilla, caramel, and oak.

Finish: Warm and of medium length with notes of oak, caramel, and cinnamon.

IMAGE: This is very good, it earns a smile.

Thoughts: As always, this is delicious. I'm really enjoying the strong vanilla, caramel, and oak notes present throughout the tasting experience.

Comparison to the last batch: The nose on C924 is much more vibrant than B524, showing much less nutty nougat and more vanilla and caramel. B524 is much hotter in the mouth and finish. Overall, I prefer C924 for its sweetness and drinkability, as it’s less hot.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, C924

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided at no charge by Heaven Hill for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $74.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.00

Details: 64.5% ABV. Age: 11 Years.

Nose: Cinnamon candies, caramel, chocolate, and oak.

Mouth: Cinnamon candies, chocolate, caramel, and oak.

Finish: Warm and medium length. Notes of cinnamon, and chocolate with dusty oak appearing after a while.

iMAGE: This is very good, it earns a smile.

Thoughts: This is incredibly drinkable neat, even at 129° proof. It has a nice sweetness to it. The chocolate and cinnamon notes are delicious. I’m a fan.

Comparison to last time: Very similar on the nose, with B524 having just a touch more "dark" notes. The mouth on B524 is a bit more vibrant than C924. Both are very good and quite similar, but if I had to choose, I’d go with B524.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

MAKER’S MARK CELLAR AGED BOURBON 2024

I’d like to thank the folks at Maker’s Mark for providing this review sample with no strings attached

IMAGE: Maker's Mark Cellar Aged 2024 Limited Edition bottle with signature red wax seal, displayed on a crumpled paper backdrop, showcasing the golden bourbon inside.

Busy, busy day today here at the BourbonGuy household. I got up early to throw a couple of pork butts on the smoker, made a batch of the best American cheese money can buy (seriously, if you want melty, gooey cheese that actually tastes good, make your own—hit me up, and I’ll send you the recipe; the email button is at the bottom of every page). Then, I made a stock pot full of pasta sauce from the tomatoes we grow in our garden. Food surrounded me all day.

And I forgot to eat lunch.

Ever do that? I seem to forget a couple of times a month. It’s a wonder I still need to lose weight. Of course, I’ll make up for it when I devour all the food I’m preparing today. I just have to remember that there is such a thing as “too much of a good thing.”

Well, unless you’re talking about extra age on some Maker’s Mark. Last year, they released their first extra-aged bourbon with the inaugural Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon. I liked it enough that I hoped to find a bottle at retail, even though the MSRP was $150. I never did, and for that, my wallet thanked me. But here we are again. The 2024 version is out, and it’s even older (and more expensive) than last year’s batch.

"We surprised the world with the debut of Maker's Mark Cellar Aged last year, a bold step in our family's legacy because, for more than 65 years, aging our whisky for a decade-plus wasn't something we did," said Rob Samuels, 8th generation whisky maker and Managing Director, Maker's Mark.  "Staying true to our founders' flavor vision and our relentless pursuit of excellence, we're thrilled to introduce our most mature bourbon yet."

Meticulously crafted, Maker's Mark Cellar Aged 2024 blends 15% Maker's Mark 12-year-old and 85% Maker's Mark 13-year-old, at 59.7% ABV or 119.3 Proof.

So. Yeah. Mostly 13 years old. Let’s see how it tastes.

Maker's Mark 2024 Cellar Aged Bourbon

Purchase Info: This 200 mL sample was sent at no cost for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $174.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $11.67

Details: 59.65% ABV. A blend of 12- and 13-year-old bourbons.

Nose: Toffee, floral vanilla, red fruit, and oak.

Mouth: Sweet and spicy with cinnamon, toffee, vanilla, and oak.

Finish: Very warm and on the longer side of medium length. A ton of oak and toffee notes.

IMAGE: A smile because I like the bourbon. The price leaves much to be desired though.

Thoughts: If you love toffee, this is the bourbon for you. Toffee and oak are the predominant flavor notes here. At just shy of 120 proof, it’s as warm and spicy as you’d expect. It takes water well, though. Just a splash will bring out more vibrancy and cut the sweetness a bit. I like this one, but probably not enough to spend $175 on it. Not sure I could bring myself to pull the trigger on that. That’s a lot of money.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.