Shelf: Middle Shelf
Price Range:  $26-30
Proof:  86.6
Age: 8+ years
Mash Bill:  85% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
Color:  Reddish Amber
Nose: Pleasant sweet oak with hints of cinnamon, cherry, and citrus.  Notes of vanilla.  
Taste:   Soft and sharp at the same time.  Velvety texture that continues to heat up on the finish.  That familiar Evan Williams woodiness that prizes oak over corn

Value:  Great value at this price.  
​Score:  89
Cut to The Chase: Great bourbon at a great price.

Batch: 1811369

Shelf: Middle Shelf
Proof: 91.4
Price: $45
Mash Bill:  79% corn, 11% rye, 10% malted barley
Color: Rosy amber
Nose: Subtle richness that requires a strong pull of the nose
 Taste: A nice round vanilla finish. Notes of cherry. Subtle oak that rises up into the nose. With it being 91.4 proof you could taste the richness but none of the strength that comes with a higher proof. I do like the presence of vanilla in this one. Citrus aftertaste. Hints of licorice. The aroma is cherry-like, like eating one of those Maraschino cherries from an Old Fashioned.
 
Value: Finds that intersection between price point and taste. Each sip provides validation that you made a good bourbon selection. You say to yourself: “Another great sip.”  
 Score: 90
 Cut To The Chase:   Yes, definitely worth the buy. Delicious.

​Bourbon Notes: One Saturday, I had scheduled an adult play-date with my good friend to spend all night playing the newly released Red Dead Redemption 2. I loved the first one. It brought me into the world of westerns and had me thinking: “Why hadn’t I watched all these films before?” There was nothing more satisfying than seeing a bartender slide a bottle of brown liquor across the wood bar to the John Wayne or Clint Eastwood hero. Something satisfying and pride-inducing about an American archetype drinking the true American spirit.
 
That Saturday, I went to my local liquor store that had a great selection of bourbon. I picked up a bottle of Basil Hayden’s. A great sipping bourbon for long conversation or coupled with an activity of endurance – such as gaming. Near it, I saw the frontier-looking bottle of Michter’s Small Batch. I had never tasted this brand before and decided to take a chance. I’ve seen it on many bar shelves and store shelves and thought it might be worthwhile. Established 1753 under a different name, it has staying power. I took it up to my friend’s and we popped it open. With the opening scenes of the game, with the main characters surviving through a harsh mountain snow, I poured my first glass. It was warm and comforting and I said to my friend, “Damn. That’s good.” After he finished his beer, he jumped on board and poured a glass himself. Michter’s Small Batch is a good companion, whether you’re making it overland through the Cumberland Gap, even if just in fantasy, or playing the beautiful western of Red Dead Redemption. I bought another bottle and is my current go-to. More please.
 
Reviewed by:  Mike Mazurek
 
Send comments to: Bourbonnotes@gmail.com

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
 
Distilled and Bottled by
Brown Foreman Distillers Company
Louisville, Kentucky

Proof: 90
Price:  $25
Age:  No age give.  Best guess 4 to 5 years
Mash Bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
 Color:  Reddish amber
Nose:  Notes of citrus, caramel, cinnamon and hints of oak.  
​Taste:   The rye takes a lead role in the initial flavor.  The 90 proof adds to the brightness as the wood comes through on the finish.

​Value:  Solid value for a single barrel bourbon
Score:  84
Cut To The Chase:     Not at the top of my list

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
 
Michter’s Distilling  LLC
Louisville, Kentucky 40216
 
Barrel No. 18B216

Shelf: Locked Cabinet
Price Range: $200 to $300 range
Proof: 94.4
Age: 10 years
Mash Bill: 79% corn, 11% rye, 10% malted barley
Color:  Honey amber
​Nose: Inviting soft nose with hints of vanilla, warm oak, toasted almond, cinnamon, citrus and cherry.   Balanced sweetness of corn and oak.
 Taste:   Buttery and warm with nice rye spark.  Velvet syrup as it expands across the pallet. The oak is mature and inviting. The rye is sharp and rises through the finish.  Complex and continues to evolves all the way finish.  It tastes like a great rickhouse aroma.  Never too much, never too little.

Value:    First find    it and then decide how much you are willing to part with.
Score:  96
Cut To The Chase:  Hard to find and expensive, but an outstanding bourbon.   

Hancock’s Reserve “President’s” 88.9 proof – Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
 
Distilled, Aged & Bottled By: Buffalo Trace Distillery,
Frankfort, KY 44.5% AC By Vol (88.9 Proof) 750 ml

Middle Shelf -- Single Barrel
Price:  Currently around $100  
Proof:  88.9
​Age:  While the age isn’t given, my estimate would be around 6-7 years in the barrel.
Mash Bill:  Buffalo Trace  mash bill #2 -- 12-15% rye
​Color: Light Amber
​Nose: Soft pleasant nose with hints of citrus and cinnamon.  Buffalo Trace wheated mash bill with rounded corn finish.  Light oak notes and citrus orange finish.
Taste: Soft on the palette. The corn is strong but not too sweet.  Balanced with wheat and lite rye.    The oak has a nice warm taste balanced with the corn and rye.  No edges.  Very pleasant single barrel bourbon.  Classic Buffalo Trace mash bill. 

Value: Not a value bourbon – gotten  hard to find and  pricey
Score: 89
Cut To The Chase:  A bit pricey, but suddenly hard to find.  Buy it if you find it.

Single Barrel
Bottled-In-Bond
Straight Bourbon Whiskey
 
Distilled and Bottled by
Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.
Louisville, KY
Bardstown, KY
 
Barrel No. 2803
Barreled on 8-10-06

Middle Shelf
Price Range:    Continues to go up in price $50 plus
Proof: 100
Mash Bill:  78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12 % Malted Barley
Age: 10 years
Color:  Dark reddish amber
Nose: Notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and oak. For 100 proof, it’s a light nose.
Taste:  Bright 100 proof with a burst of rye.  Excellent balance between corn and oak with the oak winning.

Value:   Great value for a 10 year bourbon that delivers. 
Score:   92
Cut to The Chase:  A 10 year single barrel you should own.   Buy two -- if you can find them.
 

A wonderful 10 year single barrel Bottled-In-Bond bourbon.  The heat of a 100 proof rolls of the tongue with notes of vanilla and toasted rye.  A lot of initial heat that continues with a complex finish.  It never fades or disappears, nor does the heat overwhelm.  Not easy to find this kind of bourbon with this age today at this price.   Not sure why McKenna is often overlooked.     I have to admit I was late to trying Henry McKenna but am happy I’ve found it.  It’s not as corn sweet as Buffalo Trace bourbons, but it has that rich deep satisfying oak flavor of Heaven Hill.   The reddish amber says a lot about the 10 years in the barrel and its rich warm oak.  Those extra two or three years in the barrel really pays off with a darker more complex bourbon. 
 
This is one to bring to a tasting and share with friends.  It will be a crowd favorite.  It might be too hot for some people, but I enjoy the heat of Bottled-In-Bond.   After the heat recedes, it’s the complexity of Henry McKenna that stays with you.  This is a nicely balanced satisfying bourbon that I know you will enjoy and will add depth to your collection. 

UPDATE:   As you may know,   McKenna Single Barrel Bottled-In-Bond won the 2019 San Francisco  World Spirits Award
as "Best is Show Whiskey."  I'm not surprised as McKenna Single Barrel has been one of the best kept secrets for   many years and was bound to get the acclaim it deserves.   But there is good new and bad  news here.  Which to you want first?    Okay -- the bad news first:   While there were always multiples bottles of McKenna Single Barrel on the shelves, now they are gone -- disappeared.    McKenna has   ascended to the upper   echelon of bourbon greats.  And mere mortals such as us can't find a   bottle to buy -- and if you do find one, the price has gone up -- appreciably.    The Laws of Supply and Demand  apply.   The good news?  Let me think for a second.    Ah, good news for Heaven Hill.     Congratulations.   Please release more.
 
Reviewed by: Jack Epps, Jr.
 
Send comments to: Bourbonnotes@gmail.com

Non-chill Filtered
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
 
Distilled and Bottle by
James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Beam, Clermont, Frankfort, Kentucky, USA

Shelf: Bottom 
Price:   $15
Proof:  86
Age: While no age is given, as a straight whiskey with no age statement, must be at least 4 years in the barrel.  
Mash Bill:  Unknown
​Color:  Light Amber
Nose:  Thin nose with young oak notes and a bit of fresh field hay.  Overall, the nose is narrow and limited.
Taste:   Rye leaps out and spices the bourbon, but after that, not a lot of depth or roundness.  The rye overcompensates for the lack of balance.  

​Value:  Even at this price, you can do better.
Score:  69
Cut To The Chase:  There’s better out there.
 

Kentucky Straight Whiskey
 
Distilled and Bottled by
Elijah Craig Distillery Co
Bardstown, KY

Shelf: Middle 
Price:  $25
Proof:  94 proof
Age:  No age statement. Best guess 7 to 8 years
Mash Bill:   78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
Color:  Rich amber
Nose:  Citrus orange, cinnamon, hints of cherry, vanilla sweetness
Taste:   The rye is bright and hot on the tongue which quickly smooths out with notes of oak and corn.  Has that Heaven Hill warm oak flavor with a complex aromatic finish. 

Value:  A lot of bourbon for the buck.  One of the best bourbons value on the market. 
Score:  88
Cut To The Chase:  Yes, buy, drink and enjoy.

Four Roses Single Barrel
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distill and Aged by Four Roses Distillery LLC, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

Warehouse Number PN; Barrel No 10-5U

Shelf: Top
Price Range:  $50 
Proof:   100 proof
Age:     No age given. Best guess is 8 to 10  years
67.5% corn, 27.5% rye, 5% malted barley
Color:  Reddish Amber
 Nose: A delicate sweet corn fragrance with crisp rye edges and light notes of caramel, apricot and oak.
 Taste:   Warm and pleasing on the palette.  The whiskey washes across the mouth with aged soft oak taking the lead and begins to rise as the rye takes over and heats up.  On the front of the tongue the oak is most prevalent.  Hold it a bit on the tongue and bourbon evolves into a satin syrup as the corn smooths out the heat of the 100 proof followed by a   a long pleasing finish.   
​
Value:  You get what you pay for -- excellence 
Score:  93
Cut to the Chase:    You need to own a bottle of   Four Roses Single Barrel
 

Bourbon Notes:  What was once a bottom shelf label in the 1970’s has turned into an industry leader with their many outstanding offerings.  They have created a terrific bourbon throughout their entire line with the Four Roses Single Barrel as the cream of the crop.  Only Four Roses Barrel Strength challenges this single barrel whiskey at nearly twice the price.  It’s easy for Four Roses Single Barrel to quickly become your go-to bourbon.  Between my own use and sharing with friends, my bottle quickly disappeared and I’m looking forward to trying a different barrel.  Also kudos to Four Roses for hand writing the Warehouse and the Barrel Number.  The more information the better.  I like the PN warehouse.
 
 Four Roses Single Barrel is a must have in your bar.  This beats all the other bourbons in this price range and is usually the favorite at my tastings.  There is nothing like a single barrel for quality and flavor, and Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon stands out consistently.   You won’t be disappointed.   If you are, please let me know. 
 
PS  I just finished off this bottle. We held a small wake for it.  I’m going to really miss this one.  I’m looking for another  bottle from the PN Warehouse.  The hunt is on.

UPDATE:   As reviewed   elsewhere on Bourbon Notes,  Four Roses has released Four Roses  Small Batch Select,  which  is now, in my opinion, the cream of the Four Roses crop.   This  does not in any  way diminish the outstanding Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon.    They are both outstanding bourbons and you should own each one of them.    Each bourbon has something special to offer.   

Reviewed by:    Jack Epps, Jr.
 
Send comments to: Bourbonnotes@gmail.com