Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey

This review sample was kindly provided by the PR team for Uncle Nearest Whiskey with no strings attached.

IMAGE: a bottle of Uncle Nearest sitting in the morning sunlight. With a dog in the neighbors yard in the background.

We’ve talked a lot about Uncle Nearest in the last couple of months. Why is that? Well, they are putting out a lot of new products this fall as part of their “12 Days of Christmas” celebration. So far they’ve released a distillery-only barrel-proof rye whiskey, a 100 proof rye and now a Single Barrel version of their Tennessee whiskey. Plus there are rumors of one more on the horizon.

Uncle Nearest is a brand that celebrates history (if you don’t understand why I say that check out my breakdown of that history from early 2020) and I’m thinking that releasing three to four brand new whiskeys in the span of a couple of months has got to be right up there when it comes to historical firsts. This particular release is a high-proof, single barrel version of the whiskey used to make their initial two products. Here is what the company website has to say about it:

This single barrel is different. It has the most distinct flavor profile of any of our whiskeys and was bottled at barrel strength to capture every nuance of this one-of-a-kind spirit. Our distillery’s triple filtration process ensures perfection in every sip. Distilled, aged and bottled in middle Tennessee, home of premier master distiller and teacher, Nearest Green. The smooth character of our whiskey is what distinguishes it from all others. The legacy of our namesake is what makes it unrivaled. This product is available in: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, IA, IN, KY, LA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, RI, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY

So, now that we all know why we are talking about Uncle Nearest again tonight, let’s see how this one tastes.

Uncle Nearest Single Barrel

Purchase Info: This sample was provided for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $79

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.27

Details: 60.5% ABV. Barrel #7.

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, oak, and light mint.

Mouth: Spicy and hot. Notes of caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond.

Finish: Long and warm with notes of oak, almond, and chewable vitamins.

Thoughts: This is really good. It's too hot for me to drink neat, as is to be expected at 120° proof. But it takes just a little water to tame the heat a bit and bring out more leather and biscuit notes. I like it.

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J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey

This review sample was kindly provided by the producer with no strings attached.

It snowed all day yesterday. We ended up with seven to eight inches by the time it was all done. And while I was outside, shoveling out the vehicle and making a spot for the dogs to go potty, I was reminded of my favorite “snow story.”

It was almost ten years ago, and my wife and I were visiting friends in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Their daughter was going to be honored during a parade, and we wanted to be there to help her celebrate. During the parade, I got into a conversation with another little girl, probably 4 or 5 years old, who was bundled up like it was twenty below zero. It was warm enough that I was in a light hoodie. Now, I love talking to little kids, they have such a fun insight into the world around them, so I had fun chatting. Well, we got to talking about how cold it was. And she told me that they “even had snow once.” I mentioned that I don’t really like snow. And that, in fact, it was snowing at my house in Minnesota at that very moment. The look on her face was incredible. She just did not believe me that there could be snow at my house when there was none where we were. Super cute. I haven’t thought of her in years. I hope she’s doing well these days.

Anyway, I was probably reminded of Louisiana because of the fact that I was supposed to be writing about it as I was shoveling snow. A few weeks ago, I received a sample of a rice whiskey from Louisiana. J.T. Meleck American Rice whiskey is a four-year-old whiskey made from a 100% rice mashbill.

What interested me about the product is simply that I love rice. Like, I’d gladly eat it with every meal if those around me would go along with the idea. My favorite is the Carolina Gold rice that I occasionally order from Anson Mills. It is super flavorful in a way that most of the rice I find locally is not. That said, it is a bit expensive, so I only have it every so often. I mean, I still love even cheap, store-brand rice too.

So, I love rice. Did that mean I was going to like rice whiskey? Well, a few years back, when Jim Beam was doing their Harvest Collection Bourbons, which contained alternate flavoring grains, I remembered liking the brown rice one. Though that was a bourbon and not a 100% rice whiskey, I felt confident enough to request a sample. Even if a sample of whiskey is free, I don’t like requesting things that I know for a fact I won’t like. I don’t like to poop on other people’s hard work, so if I know it isn’t for me, I steer clear.

Anyway, let’s move on to what the producer has to say about their product before I tell you if I actually did like it or not.

Whiskeys are commonly made from grains like barley, corn, rye and wheat. Few distillers use rice as part of their mash bill in the U.S., and no American brand has ever crafted a whiskey made 100% from rice, at a commercial level. J.T. Meleck Distillers is the first to craft and market a whiskey made 100% from their rice on a large scale. Every step of the process takes place in Louisiana, from farm to glass. Like other American whiskeys, J.T. Meleck whiskey is aged for nearly 5 years in American oak, 53-gallon barrels.

Now the fun part: how does it taste?

J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $47 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.13

Details: 100% Rice. 48% ABV. 4-years old.

Nose: Clean is the first word that comes to mind on this one. I'm getting sweet cherry, mint, and lots of vanilla.

Mouth: This is reasonably delicate but with a pleasant tingle on the ol' tongue. Notes of vanilla and cherry, along with hints of baking spice and mint.

Finish: On the longer side of medium length. Notes of mint and cooked Carolina Gold rice.

Thoughts: As a whiskey geek, I find this fascinating. As a lover of whiskey produced in the American style, I like this a lot. If I were in Louisiana, touring a rice plantation, you know damn well that this would be coming home with me as a killer souvenir. That said, this might be hit or miss for some people. I can see Bourbon-only drinkers not caring for it as a bit delicate. But if you are open to exploration and you find yourself in Louisiana, this is one to check out.

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.

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The Whiskey Grail

The product in this review was sent at no charge for review purposes with no strings attached.

Glassware. It’s made of glass, right? I mean, it’s right there in the name. Glassware. All of the best glasses are made of glass. Glazed ceramic is cool if you have a coffee mug, or you like to support your local pottery shop, or you frequent your local Renaissance Faire with a mug of ale (Faire with an extra E to make it olde timey). But otherwise, good old glass works best for glasses. Plastic? Not on this guy’s watch. Especially with whiskey.

No, sir. I’m pretty stuck in my ways. If you pour me a glass of whiskey, nothing beats glass. Or so I always thought until I got an email from the folks behind tonight’s product review. See they make themselves a wooden whiskey glass. With a charred inside.

Now, as you might expect with my previously professed love of glass glasses, I was a little skeptical of the world’s need for a wooden glass. But the emailer was nice enough to say kind words about me and the blog. And since I love talking about myself and hearing compliments, I took a second look at their email. I did make my, and I’m assuming your, skepticism apparent to them, though. Here is the email I sent back to them:

Thanks for reaching out. I’d be happy to take a look at a Grail. If it is something that I think my readers might like I’ll be happy to talk about it on BourbonGuy.com. I’ll warn you though, my readers are a very frugal and skeptical bunch, and are happy to let people know it so I have to be straight with them and not blow smoke up their nethers about products. 😁

If that meets with your approval, you can send a sample to the address below.

See, after over a decade of blathering at you lovely people, I like to think I know you pretty well. I don’t want to waste your time on gimmicks or products like “whiskey stones” that just seem like they would offer more chipped teeth than chilled whiskey. I don’t do gift guides for that reason. Because we all know what would be on it.

BourbonGuy.com 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

  1. Your Favorite Bourbon

  2. Your Favorite Rye

  3. A glass?

  4. And, of course, stuff from the BourbonGuyGifts.com Merch Store.

Anyway, listing number three in the gift guide brings me back to the Whiskey Grail, which is what these fine folks from Georgia call their wooden whiskey cup. And let me tell you, as skeptical as I was about this product, I like it. It fits in my hand amazingly. It looks cute. And believe it or not, it does add an oaky note to a glass of whiskey when you try it side-by-side with the same whiskey in a glass made from good ol’ glass. The oaky note seems to be because you are sticking your mouth on a piece of wood, not that your whiskey is being infused with extra oak. But in any case, the claim of adding an oak note to your whiskey is true as far as I my mouth can tell.

IMAGE: I like this glass so it gets a smile.

So should you buy it? The cups run from $30 to $35, depending on if you want their logo engraved on it or not. I probably wouldn’t have purchased it for myself if I had seen it in a store. But if I was at a craft fair (no e) or a festival? There is a better-than-even chance it would have come home with me. Honestly, this would make a fun gift for a playful whiskey lover.

Don’t get it for the curmudgeons who only want to drink out of a Glencairn, though. They don’t usually understand fun.

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.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled In Bond, Fall 2022

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

IMAGE: A sample bottle of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Fall 2022 edition sitting in the snow.

Man alive! I just spent the last four hours straight building a PowerPoint presentation for a client. My eyes and my brain are absolutely fried tonight. So, because we’ve covered almost all of the previous editions previously, I’m going to let the folks at Heaven Hill talk for themselves tonight.

The Fall 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the first 19-year-old of the nationally released series and features Bourbon pulled from across three floors of rickhouse F and one floor of rickhouse X at Heaven Hill Distillery's main campus. As a leader of the Bottled-in-Bond category, Heaven Hill is proud to offer a premium product within this special class that showcases the authenticity and quality of the American Whiskey portfolio. Acquired in 1999 by Heaven Hill, the legendary Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree and intriguing story behind its namesake, John E. Fitzgerald, whose legacy is also heralded by the Larceny Bourbon brand.

So $240 for a single bottle (of anything) is quite a bit outside my price range, but let’s see how it tastes anyway.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond, Fall 2022

Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $240.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $16.00

Details: Distilled in fall 2003. Bottled in fall 2022. 19 years old. 50 % ABV.

Nose: Chocolate, vanilla, coconut, leather, and oak.

Mouth: Cinnamon, mint, oak, caramel, and leather.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak.

Thoughts: We are split in the BourbonGuy household over this one. My wife, who loves old and oaky bourbons, is a big fan. I, who prefers his bourbon not to be so oaky, am not nearly as much of a fan. She gives it a like, whereas I am neutral on it. Fans of oaky bourbon will love this. Those of us who prefer our bourbon not to taste like an old barrel can easily leave this one to those it is aimed at with few regrets.

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.

Uncle Nearest Rye, 100 proof

This review sample was kindly provided by the PR team for Uncle Nearest Whiskey with no strings attached.

It’s been snowing for the last two days. I hate snow. It’s cold. It’s wet unless it isn’t, in which case it is even colder. It’s heavy, especially when it is wet. It’s just all-around unpleasant. Though that is an unpopular opinion around here. Most folks in the area love winter. Or they claim to. I secretly think they are just stubborn and don’t want to move.

And don’t you worry, I’m thinking of moving. I think about it with every shovel full of snow that I throw off the driveway. Every time I look out at the snow-covered deck and think about deck drinks. Every time I have to bundle up to walk to the mailbox at the end of my driveway. Every time I think about moving. But…then I don’t. I have family here. My wife has a good job. I can afford to pay the heating bill. There is a lot of inertia in staying put. At least I have tasty rye whiskey to help keep me warm on a cold winter’s night.

Sometimes, like tonight, that rye comes from Canada, a place even colder than Minnesota. Though tonight’s comes from Canada by way of New York and Tennessee. Yep, once again, we are looking at an Uncle Nearest Rye. About a month ago, we looked at the limited edition uncut and unfiltered version. Tonight’s is the mass market, 100° proof version. The press release has the following to say about it:

Due to the challenges around growing rye in Tennessee, this whiskey originates in Canada – according to the exact American specifications required to be a straight rye whiskey – and is then aged in New York for a minimum of four years before moving down to Tennessee, where it is then rested in used Uncle Nearest barrels for additional maturation. The liquid is then tasted, barrel by barrel, and blended by Victoria. “When I was doing my research on Nearest Green, I came across a handwritten letter from President William Taft,” said Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest. “The letter was dated May 16, 1911, and was addressed to his U.S. Secretary of War, Jacob M. Dickinson, thanking him for sending his favorite rye whiskey ‘of the Lincoln County variety.’ This letter led me to believe rye whiskeys were being made in this area, so after I found that letter there was no doubt in my mind a straight rye whiskey would one day be added to our portfolio of whiskeys.”

So, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Uncle Nearest Rye, 100 proof

Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $59.

Price Per Drink (50 ml): $4.00

Details: Distilled in Canada, Aged in Canada, New York, and Tennessee. 50% ABV.

Nose: Toffee, almond, a hint of mint, and chocolate.

Mouth: Thick mouthfeel. Cinnamon, mint, toffee, and almond.

Finish: Medium to long and warm. Notes of cinnamon and toffee.

Thoughts: Sweet and thick in the mouth. Nice spice. Almost too sweet for my palate. This would probably be amazing in an Old Fashioned, though. (Spoiler from after I took the notes…it is. Works great in an Old Fashioned with Angostura bitters and the oil expressed from the orange peel garnish.)

About a month ago, we covered the Uncut/Unfiltered Limited Edition Uncle Nearest Rye. So how does the 100° proof version compare? Well, this is very similar on the nose. The mouth of the 100° proof is a bit less punchy than the barrel-strength version. Which at an almost 20° proof difference is to be expected. The flavors are very similar, as you might expect, but the barrel-proof version is hotter and more vibrant. Both are quite good, though.

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.

Redemption Sur Lee

This bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes with no strings attached.

If you’ve been here a while, you probably know that I love it when whiskey companies experiment with things. My very first review was applauding an experimental whiskey from craft distiller friends of mine. I applauded the experimentation, even though I didn’t care for the results. Not every experiment is successful but even failed experiments yield valuable data.

So when the folks at Redemption reached out and asked me to take a look at their new product that was the result of their own experimentation with the whiskey aging process, I was happy to take a look.

Well, what did they do differently? I’ll actually quote from the bottle for this one since they were nice enough to illustrate and outline the process they used right on the label.

  1. THE MASH. 5% barley 95% rye. We begin with our classic pre-Prohibition style Redemption Rye Whiskey mash bill.

  2. FERMENTATION. When added to the mash, the yeast consumes the sugar, converting it into alcohol & CO2.

  3. THE BACKSET. During distillation, alcohol is separated from the grains and yeast creating a flavorful backset, which we call the “whiskey lees.”

  4. ON THE “LEES.” We add the “lees” into our barrels, a technique inspired by a French winemaking process called “Sur Lie.”

  5. ROLLING THE BARRELS By periodically rotating the barrels during the aging process, we cause the grain and yeast cells in the “lees” & the whiskey to continually interact, infusing the liquid over time to create a deep and complex expression.

  6. CHILL HAZE. We non-chill filter the whiskey to preserve its best flavors and aromas. The whiskey may appear cloudy when chilled.

  7. ENJOY. The result of this innovative process is a whiskey that is soft around the edges with bold, rich taste, accentuated with a creamy mouthfeel and a hint of rye spice.

And from the Press Release:

Said Tom Steffanci, President of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, which produces Redemption: "At the beginning of our creation process, we were curious to see what flavors would be imparted if we applied a technique similar to the French winemaking sur lie process to our amazing classic rye mash bill. We spent a lot of time adjusting the approach to get it just right and we are delighted with the delicious outcome. I can't wait to hear from consumers once they have the opportunity to taste it."

Now, this might offend purists, but at the end of the day, experimentation like this is what differentiates products that would otherwise be basically the same. This takes (probable) MGP whiskey and does something interesting to it. Which I applaud. But the most important thing is how it tastes. So let’s dig in.

Redemption Sur Lee

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided for review purposes by the provider and their PR team. The suggested retail price is $59.99, and it is available for a limited time in NY, DE, FL, CA, TX, and MA.

Price per drink (50 mL): $4.00

Details: Three years old. 47% ABV. Aged with a bit of setback from the fermentation process.

Nose: Cedar, mint, almond, and nutmeg.

Month: Caramel, cedar, almond, and cinnamon.

Finish: Medium length. Initial notes of cedar and mint fade to reveal cardamom.

Thoughts: This is a decent rye. I'm partial to the 95% rye mash bill, so I'm enjoying this. I really dig the cardamom note right at the end of the finish. Makes me want to go back for another sip.

Compared to the standard Redemption rye: The noses are pretty similar. If I didn't have them side by side, I wouldn't notice a difference. But since I do, I'd say Sur Lee has the same notes, just more pronounced. The Sur Lee has a softer mouthfeel, and the sweet and cedar notes are more prominent. The finish on the Sur Lee has that fun cardamom note that standard is missing.

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.