Little Book Chapter 6, "To the Finish"

I’d like to thank the folks from Beam Suntory and their PR teams for sharing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Sample bottle of Little Book Chapter 6, To the Finish.

Beam Suntory’s Little Book is the creation of the newly appointed Eighth Generation Jim Beam Master Distiller Freddie Noe. It is a celebration of what “blended whiskey” can be. These aren’t the blended whiskeys of the mid-to-late 20th century. These are delicious, high proof whiskeys that allow for creativity of ingredient. And I have liked every iteration of Little Book so far. So when I was offered a sample for review, I jumped at it.

This “chapter” is a pretty complicated blend. It includes a five-year-old straight bourbon along with four four-year-old straight malt whiskeys that have each been finished in a different type of finshing barrel. Those include barrels with cherrywood staves and maple wood staves along with barrels that have been smoked with applewood smoke and hickory smoke. Here is what the press release has to say:

Little Book Chapter 6: “To The Finish,” is the latest chapter in Eighth Generation Master Distiller, Freddie Noe’s acclaimed Little Book Whiskey series. The name of this year’s chapter is inspired by Freddie’s passion for both whiskey-making and cooking, and more specifically his curiosity for how flavors come together.

The kitchen has always been a place where the Noe family has come together to share traditions from generation to generation. These traditions around family meals, and Freddie’s adventures around the grill, inspired his work in the rackhouse for Chapter 6. Freddie uses the traditional method of smoking hardwoods to create different aromas and flavors in food, and he’s applied that same method to the whiskey-making process, using unique wood staves and barrel techniques for Chapter 6.

So, how does it taste?

Little Book Chapter 6 "To the Finish"

Purchase Info: This sample was sent to me by the producer for review purposes. The Suggested Retail Price is $124.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $8.33

Details: 58.725% ABV. Blend Components: 4-year-old Straight Malt Whiskey finished with cherrywood staves, 4-year-old Straight Malt Whiskey finished with applewood smoked barrels, 4-year-old Straight Malt Whiskey finished in hickory smoked barrels, 4-year-old Straight Malt Whiskey finished with maple wood staves, and 5-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

Nose: Cinnamon, wintergreen, malted grain, and hints of cherry.

Mouth: Very hot and dry. Notes follow the nose with cherry, wintergreen, malt, and cinnamon.

Finish: Long and warm with notes of malt, cinnamon, wintergreen, and a touch of barbeque smoke.

IMAGE: I didn't care for this but it isn't bad whiskey so it gets a neutral face.

Thoughts: I'm sad to say that this is the first "Chapter" of Little Book that didn't work for me. But that is entirely on me, not the Whiskey. I'm not a fan of either malt or smoke, and this has notes of both. So that's on me, not Freddie Noe. If you like/don't mind the flavor of malt whiskey, then this is worth a look.

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Larceny Barrel Proof, C922

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

IMAGE: a sample bottle of Larceny Barrel Proof, C922. 126.6 proof.

In the May review of Larceny Barrel Proof version B522, I said the following:

If you can find it, it is usually pretty affordable with a suggested retail price of $59.99. That if carries a lot of weight though as I’ve never seen it on a shelf before.

Well hallelujah! Since that time, I’ve seen it on the shelf. Twice. And I bought it both times. We either just got it locally or the local stores have stopped holding it back for lotteries. Either way, I like it when online whining seems to correlate to a change in the universe, and in that spirit, I’d just like to say that I’ve also never seen a million dollars in my bank account.

You know, in case the universe wants to do me another solid…

Larceny Barrel Proof is a barrel-proof bourbon released three times per year in January, May, and September by the folks at Heaven Hill. It is fairly affordable for a special release, with a suggested retail price of $59.99. I think I may have spent $65 on my bottles locally. Larceny Barrel Proof uses Heaven Hill’s wheated Bourbon mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. Every release so far has been super tasty. Let’s see if that trend continues.

Larceny Barrel Proof, C922

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided by Heaven Hill for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $59.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.00

Details: 63.3% ABV.

Nose: Caramel, herbal mint, oak, bubblegum, and a hint of wood smoke.

Mouth: Spicy with notes of ginger, oak, caramel, orange zest, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Finish: Long and warm with notes of cinnamon, ginger, leather, and orange zest.

Thoughts: This is delicious. Warm, sweet, spicy. I could drink this all night long. Big, big fan.

Comparison to B522: The noses are very similar. B522 might show just a little more sweetness. B522 isn't as sweet on the mouth but is just as spicy, though B522's spice is more nutmeg than ginger. If I were forced to choose, C922 would be my choice, but since I've bought two bottles of B522, it is safe to say that both are good.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finished Bourbon

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: a partially full bottle of Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finished Bourbon

As we are in the middle of the Autumn Bourbon Special Release season, I find myself getting increasingly crabby with producers putting out bottles far outside a regular consumer's price range. Old Man Eric remembers when limited editions were limited in quantity, not limited to the wealthy. But that ship has long since passed us by. And all this site's frugal readers (and writers) need to remember that these bourbons are no longer for us. As my grandfather used to say, they are for people with more dollars than sense.

Or do we need to remember that? Last week, I had a Limited Edition Bourbon land on my front step. And it breaks the trend of Limited Editions being limited to people of wealth. Look, I get it. Market forces being what they are means that as more people want something that is of limited quantity, prices go up to what the market will bear. It’s just that, unfortunately for those of us in the frugal category, what the market as a whole can bear is more than we want to bear personally. But some producers seem ok with putting out a special edition bourbon that is only about $10 or so more expensive than their standard releases. And I think that should be celebrated.

So let’s pour a drink of the newly released Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finished Bourbon to celebrate and learn what there is to learn about this Limited Edition bourbon. I did a very deep historical dive into the history of the brand back in 2020 when they initially released bourbon under the Daviess County name, so I will let you go read that if you wish. But today, I’ll let the press release talk for itself.

I mean, I’m out here yelling at clouds. I might as well let someone with some sense take over.

Daviess County Lightly Toasted features its namesake brand family’s signature combination of ryed and wheated bourbon mashbills, which is aged four-plus years in charred-oak barrels and comes in at 96 proof (48% ABV). The lightly toasted barrel finish is what gives this limited-edition release its own unique flavor profile, while giving consumers additional options within the Daviess County family. “I’m proud to honor the rich history and tradition started in 1874 by the Daviess County Distilling Co. with this latest expression of our Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon,” said Lux Row Distillers master distiller John Rempe.

Eighteen thousand bottles of Daviess County Lightly Toasted, the “first in a series of annually offered toasted-barrel finishes” for the brand, will be hitting store shelves soon, if they haven’t landed already. The suggested retail price is $49.99. But now, I suppose that you want to know if it is any good, don’t you? Well, let’s get on with it, then.

Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finished Bourbon

Purchase Price: This sample was sent by the producers for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $49.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: 48% ABV. A blend of wheated bourbon and bourbon that uses rye as its flavoring grain.

Nose: Warm, buttered toast, Christmas spices, brown sugar, vanilla, and roasted nuts.

Mouth: Spicier than I'd have guessed from the nose. Notes of Christmas spices, almond, and oak.

Finish: Warm and long with lingering notes of cinnamon and almond.

A smiley face because I really like this.

Thoughts: Dry and spicy without a ton of sweetness. The added wood and the cinnamon notes really come through when you compare it to standard Daviess County. I tend to like sweet, fruity bourbons as my go-to’s, but on those days I want something dry and spicy, I'm going to reach for this one. I really like it.

This is a very tasty limited edition bourbon that doesn’t cost much more than the standard release. I like it quite a bit better, though, so if I see it, I will also buy it. Not to shit on the standard release. I’ve enjoyed quite a few bottles of that over the last year or so. Lightly Toasted is just really good.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

Four Roses 2022 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon

I’d like to thank the folks at Four Roses for providing this review sample to me with no strings attached.

IMAGE: A sample bottle of the 2022 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch. Copy includes: Barrel Strength, 109 proof. OESF - 14 Years, OESV - 14 Years, OESK - 15 Years, OBSV - 20 years.

It is that time of year again. That time when we feature all of the upcoming limited edition bourbons that companies are hoping you will love. We showcased Yellowstone’s 2022 limited on Tuesday and tonight we turn our attention to one that used to be the highlight of the bourbon year for me.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch is a yearly limited edition release showcasing the creative side of Four Roses. Throughout each Spring and Summer, Master Distiller Brent Elliott and his team start gathering the bourbons that may eventually make their way into the Fall’s concoction. After extensive experimentation and testing, they develop numerous blends and then eventually whittle it down to one. And they do a good job. Every year it is one to keep an eye out for.

This year the blend includes bourbons ranging from 14 to 20 years old. It features four of their bourbon recipes: a 14-year-old OESF, a 14-year-old OESV, a 15-year-old OESK, and a 20-year-old OBSV. The F yeast has me pretty excited. While Q yeast is my favorite, F is a close second. If I see a Q or an F yeast used in a Single Barrel Pick while out shopping, it always comes home with me.

The suggested retail price is $179.99 per bottle. It’ll roll out to retailers in September, but if you are feeling lucky and will be able to make it to Kentucky to pick it up between September 17 and October 16, they will be having a lottery drawing to purchase a bottle at the distillery gift shop. Visit the Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition website between August 22 and August 28 to enter.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2022

Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $179.99.

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $12.00

Details: 54.5% ABV. Features a 14-year-old OESF, a 14-year-old OESV, a 15-year-old OESK, and a 20-year-old OBSV.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, oak, cinnamon, strawberry Starburst candy.

Mouth: Cinnamon, leather, caramel, oak, and Juicy Fruit Gum.

Finish: Warm and long. Notes of leather, cinnamon, and oak.

Thoughts: This is pretty tasty. There is a split decision in this house as to whether we would actually spend the asking price, though. My wife is on the yes side. I'm in the no camp.

This is really good. I'm just not sure that it is $180 good. That said, very little is. And, harsh as it sounds, those I've tried that we decided might be worth $180 are better than this. I'd buy this in a heartbeat at the $130-ish price tag it used to have. But I had a hard time paying last year’s $150 price. And there is just no way I can bring myself to pay the $180 this year. And I say all of this as a devout Four Roses Fanboy.

It saddens me to be priced out of the market for one of my favorite bourbons, but this is the first year that I can unequivocally say that, to me, this is not worth the asking price. That said, if money is no object, this is very good bourbon, and you should pick it up, drink it and enjoy the heck out of it. If you have a budget, as I do, then you’ll need to decide if you want to use part of it on a bottle that prices at $12 per pour should you happen to win your local lottery.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

Yellowstone Limited Edition 2022

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: 200 mL sample bottle of the 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon

It’s fair to say I’m in Vacation Mode already. By which I mean I’m having a hard time giving two fucks about anything.

Which kinda sucks because I’m not actually going to be on vacation for a couple of weeks yet. But man, do I need it. I haven’t taken a day off since September of last year. And the burnout is starting to show. The ‘ol fuse on the temper is shorter than usual. Which is weird, what with the “give-a-shit meter” also being at an all-time low. I never realized that those two things could happen simultaneously.

“I couldn’t care less about that, but I’m probably going to get angry anyway…”

So yeah. Let’s just take the easy way out for this special release and let the producer describe this one for us.

Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam announced the upcoming release of 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Featuring a delicately balanced blend of 7-year, 15-year and 16-year aged bourbons hand-selected by Beam and aged in Marsala Superiore casks, the latest expression of Yellowstone Limited Edition will begin to be available in September with a suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750ml bottle.

Since 2015, Beam has produced a unique, limited-edition bourbon annually under the Yellowstone brand, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2022, along with its namesake national park. For this year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition, Beam selected Marsala Superiore casks to finish select barrels of 7-year-old-bourbon to provide unique tasting notes to complement the extra-aged bourbons comprising this year’s Limited Edition.

And now you might be asking yourself: “so what exactly is a Marsala Superiore cask?” Well, luckily for me and my lazy ways, the producer was happy to answer that question too.

Marsala Superiore is a dry, sweet wine produced near the Italian city of Marsala in Sicily and aged at least two years. A fortified wine similar to Sherry, Marsala imparts tangy flavors of dried fruit and citrus and is often used in cooking or served as a dessert wine. 

But at the end of the day, the real question is how does it taste, and is it worth the asking price? Let’s find out.

Yellowstone Limited Edition 2022

Purchase Info: This sample was sent by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $99.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.67

Details: 50.5% ABV. A blend of 7-year, 15-year, and 16-year-old bourbons. A portion of the bourbon was aged in Marsala Superiore casks.

Nose: Brown sugar, vanilla, fruit, baking spice, leather, and almond.

Mouth: Salted caramel, leather, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and oak.

Finish: Spicy and warm with notes of bubblegum, oak, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Thoughts: Delicious. Spicy but not overly hot. It has a nice subtle fruitiness backing up the oak, leather, and spice notes. I'm really digging this one. I will have to keep my eyes open for it for sure. And if I see it for near the suggested retail price, I’ll probably splurge on it.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

My Wandering Eye: Plantation O.F.T.D. Overproof 69% Rum

My Wandering Eye is an ongoing series reacting to the rising prices in the bourbon world. We’ve reached a place where even average products have hit the range where they compete price-wise with other types of aged spirits. If I’m going to be asked to drop $40 to $70 on a mid-range bourbon, I might as well see what else I can get for that money. I hope to see if another spirits category offers something downright tasty in that price range. The goal isn’t to find cheap spirits but to maximize the quality I’m getting at a particular price point. The reviews in this series will all be written through a bourbon drinker’s lens.

IMAGE: Closeup image of Plantation OFTD Overproof 69% ABV Rum.

As we are quickly coming up on the Autumn Whiskey Release season, I think it is just about time to take a quick break from whiskey and let our eyes wander around the liquor store a little bit. Kind of a palate cleanser before we start taking a look at a bunch of bourbons that we will probably never see on the shelf or won’t be able to afford should we see them. And so I’m taking a look at an inexpensive, by bourbon standards, rum that works amazingly well both with a little ice or in a cocktail.

Here is what the producer has to say about this one:

Plantation O.F.T.D. Rum is our take on that classic style of overproof rums. And not just ours: to join him on the quest to get the blend and the proof just right, Alexandre Gabriel scoured rum joints around the world to find six grizzled old salts who knew which end of a rum bottle was which. Together they came up with this blend of Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados rums, bottled at 69 percent alcohol. O.F.T.D. officially stands for Old Fashioned Traditional Dark but if you ask any of the seven collaborators who were in the room when this blend was born, they’ll tell you it really stands for something else that was exclaimed when the winning rum was tasted…

Let’s see how it tastes.

Plantation O.F.T.D. Overproof 69% Rum

Purchase Info: $30.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine, Burnsville, MN

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.07

Details: Blend of Jamaica, Guyana, and Barbados Rums. 69% ABV.

Nose: This is like the best molasses and ginger cookie you've ever had. Strong notes of molasses and ginger are backed up by cinnamon, citrus, and coffee.

Mouth: Very hot (as expected at 138° proof) with notes of caramel, molasses, chocolate, ginger, nutmeg, and citrus.

Finish: On the long side of medium length and warm. Notes of molasses, nutmeg, and chocolate.

IMAGE: I really liked this so it gets a smile.

Thoughts: To paraphrase the quote above. Oh fuck, that’s delicious! It’s good on its own but is very hot. Water tames the heat and ups the sweetness, and brings in a little mint. I've used this in cocktails many times, and it works amazingly in all the ones I’ve tried. To me, it didn’t matter whether the cocktail normally calls for a light rum or dark. It still worked. Overall, O.F.T.D. is a great rum. I’m a big fan.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.