Booker's True Barrel Bourbon (Batch -01E)
In 1988, Booker Noe, Grandson of Jim Beam introduced his own signature bourbon - 'Booker's'- hand-selected and bottled straight from the barrel, uncut and unfiltered. He first created 'Booker's' as a holiday gift for close friends, but the whiskey was so well received that he decided to make it available to bourbon lovers worldwide. This is a big, muscular style of bourbon with plenty of spice, dried fruits & toasted nuts. Each batch varies slightly as Booker's is bottled uncut at barrel strength usually around 60% abv. Remarkably well-balanced for such a brawny style, opens up nicely with a splash of water and would go even better with a good cigar. This batch is named in honour of Charlie Hutchens, the craftsman behind the signature wooden boxes that each bottle of Booker’s Bourbon comes in, in the American market. He is also a long-time family friend and former employee of Booker Noe. This batch is made up of barrels from four production dates that were aged in four different warehouses for over 7 Years. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s 2023-01E is as follows: 3% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q, 17% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse G, 24% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse Z, 27% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z, 29% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse 1. The colour of this batch is pleasant to the eye with an amber colour of a well-aged bourbon. The nose is balanced without too much wood and with hints of oak, toasted nuts, and vanilla. The taste is balanced with a slight warmth and has a pleasant finish. This batch was bottled at 126.6 proof. Batch - 2023-01E
Aviation Gin
This Western-style gin from Portland, Oregan, so impressed Wine Enthusiast magazine, they recently voted it 'Top Gin'. With delicious lavender and citrus notes in a creamy-rye spirit base, this Aviation Gin is equally enjoyable on its own or in a lip-smacking cocktail.
Ilegal Mezcal Joven
Ilegal mezcal is a beautifully balanced vintage mezcal from Tlacolula, Oaxaca Mexico. It is made by a fourth generation Mescalero and his family using 500 year old methods. Ilegal joven mezcal is a perfect balance of espadin agave and light smoke. Deep agave aromas. Hints of baked apple and white pepper. Lingering heat and sweet agave throughout.
The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
Islay artisans, Bruichladdich, turn their hands to producing the first and only Islay Dry Gin. The botanicals used comprise of nine classic gin varietals, plus 22 wild, Islay botanicals that are hand-picked from the wind-swept hills, peat bogs and the Atlantic shores. The result is a highly distinctive, complex, floral gin with outstanding finish and impeccable provenance. In an age of re-badged industrial gins, the Botanist stands out as a truly artisanal, small-batch, hand-crafted labour of love and distiller's art. A breath of botanical Islay in every glass.
Amrut Fusion Indian Whisky
While India may not be the first country to mind when great world whisky is mentioned, the Fusion Single Malt is about to change all that. Considered by Jim Murray to be the 3rd best whisky in the world as part of his 2010 Whisky Bible, the Fusion is a phenomenal amalgam of flavours, aromas and texture the envy of most, even in Scotland. On the nose this spectacular whisky offers up notes of heavy oak, barley sugar and some subtle smoke characters that play ever so well with amazingly complex flavours like custard cream, toffee and dried fruits. While the whisky threatens to be completely overpowering, the balance on the finish is nothing short of ground breaking. There is simply no better way to extend your whisky horizons than with a bottle of Amrut Fusion.
Precious Vodka Luxury Edition
Precious Vodka Luxury Edition is a six times distilled and triple charcoal filtered vodka that ensures a highly pure fine spirit. It is presented in a distinctive and beautifully unique diamond shaped bottle, with every bottle packaged in a luxury box. Each bottle comes with a pourer and a natural precious gem stone which includes either a Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, Topaz and Peridot, making it the perfect gift idea.
Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Elijah Craig are another of Heaven Hill's successful brands. When a surge in popularity for the 12 year led to an inability to meet demand, it was removed from US shelves in 2016 (no surprise, age statements are now sought after). The core whiskey has since been re-labelled “Small Batch". Typically made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley, rumour has it this contains a fair proportion of whiskeys in the 8-12 year old range.
Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
"...you can buy me a dozen of these roses any day of the week." - breakingbourbon.com Produced from a mashbill of 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley, the strain of yeast used for the Single Barrel bottlings is Four Roses' version “V” which is described as being "delicately fruity, spicy, and creamy." (The distillery is unique in that it uses five different strains to create ten different whiskies). Ages will vary in this series, (a seven year minimum is cited by one source). Regardless, the aim is to bottle when the whiskeys are deemed to have reached their peak, with each barrel yielding approximately 180 bottles. Each release is individually marked with a warehouse and barrel number which is not predictable and subject to change without notice. It's also part of the fun: No two barrels create identical tasting Bourbons, thus the single barrel concept provides the opportunity to appreciate and compare whiskies from different barrels and aging locations. [Barrel RN 8-4R tasted] Bright burnished copper penny colour. A robust Bourbon sniff with a dense core of vanilla custard and caramel fudge overlaid with peppermint, balsa wood, cocoa and hints of cherry. Concentrated yet controlled with razor sharp sweet/dry balance; a burst of vanillan oak, honey and spiced peach, offset by a tangy, vibrant finish. Glace cherry is followed by late mint freshness. Text-book poise and length. As complete a Bourbon as you could expect to find in its category, this really over delivers. 50% Alc./Vol.