Giant Eagle Market District Grandview Yard - Liquor Store Review

From time-to-time on ColumbusBourbon.com, I will be reviewing local locations that are connected to our love of bourbon and whiskey. The first of these is my favorite liquor store in Columbus... Giant Eagle Market District in Grandview.

 

What makes this location special is that the bourbon and whiskey selection is second-to-none in Central Ohio (as seen in the below pictures). Like most liquor stores, they get their inventory delivered on Wednesday morning and unlike other stores, all inventory is available for sale on a first-come-first-served basis. Other stores often hide their rare and unique merchandise for their friends or favorite customers... that doesn't happen here, which is a huge plus. 

Additional positives are that the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly and the food selection is also amazing. The brisket is amazing and I've heard great things about the sushi station. I get excited every time I walk in this location because I know I'm getting a great lunch and I never know what unique bottles I'll be able to find. 

Ohio Bourbon Bottle Lottery - May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor

Spoiler alert... they aren't... The Cincinnati Business Courier has published the amount of entries that the State of Ohio received for the Pappy Van Winkle bottle lottery.

'Ohio's Division of Liquor Control received 73,443 entries for its third-annual bottle lottery, which is how the state disburses its allotment of the Pappy family of bourbons'

Ohio received 359 bottles for the 73,443 entries, which puts your odds at 0.49% of winning the opportunity to buy a bottle... or a little less than 1 in 200 chance.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour - Part 2!

Recently, we had the opportunity to take the Hard Hat Tour at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. This is our second time at this distillery. If you missed the first time, you can check out the post here.

Like last time, we loved the tour and the property for a multitude of reasons. First off, unlike a lot of distilleries, Buffalo Trace tours are free. The tour guide was so much fun! He was very passionate about the bourbon and provided a very authentic & informative tour. We especially enjoyed the behind the scenes access of the Hard Hat tour. We even got a chance to sample the White Dog out of our hands and experience the many flavors, textures and smells of the bourbon before it becomes bourbon. On this tour, we interacted with many of the employees of Buffalo trace. The bottlers were working overtime in the Blanton's bottling room to keep up with demand and it obvious to all of us on the tour that Buffalo Trace employees really love their job. If you're ever in the area, this is one we highly recommend.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from ColumbusBourbon.com

Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season from all of us at ColumbusBourbon.com. If you're new to the site or a regular, check out some of our top posts.

1. Beginner's Guide to Bourbon
2. Ohio's Dumb Liquor Laws
3. Our Bourbon Infusion Guide
4. Our Bourbon Reviews

Thank you for your support and we're excited for 2019 and beyond!

Bourbon Scam Alert - The Oak Wood Barrel Company

The Kentucky Attorney General has issued a scam alert regarding an online company called the Oak Wood Barrel Company using the website OakWoodBarrels.com claiming to be located in Lexington. Per the Attorney General:

Last Day To Sign Up For The Ohio Bottle Lottery - Do It Now!!

Today is the last day to enter the The Ohio Division of Liquor Control (ODLC) bottle lottery for the Pappy Van Winkle Family Collection and/or the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is now live. You have until 11:59 p.m. today (December 21)

Entries can be completed online at www.com.ohio.gov/liqr/BottleLottery.

Get to Know Castle & Key Distillery

One of the cool things about bourbon is there are a ton of new distilleries and brands coming every year. One of the newest is called Castle & Key Distillery located in Frankfort, Kentucky.

To make their bourbon, Castle & Key purchased and renovated the historic site of the former Old Taylor Distillery. This 113 acre property includes a european-inspired castle, peristyle springhouse, and sunken gardens. The renovation started in 2014 and Castle and Key began hosting curated experiences for bourbon tourists starting on September 19, 2018.

Booker's Releases 30th Anniversary Bourbon

Booker's Bourbon has announced their final release of 2018 with the release of Booker's 30th Anniversary Bourbon. This bourbon is:

"Celebrating the legacy of late Beam Master Distiller Booker Noe and the founding of his namesake brand three decades ago. Widely credited with the creation of the small batch movement... and celebrates not only the mark Noe left on the Beam family of brands, but the impact he had on the whiskey industry as a whole."

Bonus Post - Cranberry Orange Bulleit Rye Infusion - Perfect for Christmas and Winter

Welcome to the instructions and review for our second infusion. For this one, we want something that is perfect for the Christmas holiday so we're going with Cranberry and Orange infused Bulleit Rye. This is something anyone can do to add variety and excitement for their bourbon and makes a wonderful winter drink, or, even makes a great gift.

Ingredients & equipment:

• 750ml (around 3 cups) of Bulleit Rye (or a bourbon of your choice)
• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (we used fresh)
• 1/3 cup of water
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (to taste). We used 1/3 of a cup. 
• 1 peel of orange
• 1 large mason jar
• Small sauce pan
• Cheesecloth or strainer

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

Fresh off our bonus post of pictures from our trip to the Buffalo Trace Distillery, welcome to the review for Buffalo Trace Bourbon. This one is hard to find in Ohio so we're excited to give it a go. As always, let's start with the basics.

Manufacturer: Buffalo Trace (Sazerac Company)

Age: Unknown

Location Produced: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Franklin Co., KY

Mash Bill: Unknown

Aroma (from manufacturer): None provided

Taste (from manufacturer): Rich and complex, with hints of vanilla, toffee and candied fruit

Finish (from manufacturer): None provided

Alcohol: 45%

Who is this for? Everyone

Cost (Ohio): $25.49 + tax

Phew, with all that information out of the way, let's start the review. 

Taste - Score 23 out of 35

Buffalo Trace starts with a nice oak aroma. Other bourbons often smell too much like liquor, but this comes across as light and sweet.

O.Z. Tyler Distillery Announces NYE Event

O.Z. Tyler has announced their second annual New Year's Eve party taking place in their historic bottling house. They are touting this as:

'An epic evening of live music, festive atmosphere, champagne (and bourbon, obviously), and live viewing of the Times Square Ball Drop'

So You Want To Get Into Bourbon? A Beginners Guide

Here at the blog, we've been getting lots of questions from people who are new to bourbon or looking to get into the bourbon scene. Most of the questions are around how do you even get started?

We can definitely attest that when you go to a liquor store, it can be overwhelming with the amount of choices and the terminology. Thankfully, we're here to help and offer guidance. Let's start with the basics.

What makes a bourbon a bourbon? 

Bourbon is a specific type of whiskey. In order to be called a bourbon, the alcohol must meet all of the following:

• Produced in the United States
• Made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn
• Aged in new, charred oak containers
• Distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume)
• Entered into the barrel for aging at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume)
• Bottled (like other whiskeys) at 80 proof or more (40% alcohol by volume)

Note: All bourbons are whiskeys, but not all whiskeys are bourbons.

Bonus Post - Mini-Review - Joseph Magnus Bourbon

Welcome to the second mini review. This one is Joseph Magnus Bourbon. I was given two ounces by contributor of the site, Ashwin!

'Joseph Magnus Bourbon is a marriage of straight bourbon whiskey aged in white oak and finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximénez and Cognac casks'

Ohio Bottle Lottery is Live - Sign Up Now!

As we previously posted, the The Ohio Division of Liquor Control (ODLC) bottle lottery for the Pappy Van Winkle Family Collection and/or the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is now live. You have until 11:59 p.m. on December 21

Entries can be completed online at www.com.ohio.gov/liqr/BottleLottery.

The following will be required when registering:

J.W. Rutledge Plans New 140 Acre Distillery Near Louisville

New startup J.W. Rutledge Distillery LLC, led by former Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge along with Stephen Camisa and Jon Mowry, are planning a 140 acre distillery near Louisville. The project aims to produce Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Straight Rye Whiskey using traditional methods. From their announcement:

"We're building a facility that utilizes clean technologies like geothermal heating and cooling, solar energy, and biomass energy. Incorporating these sustainable technologies with age old whiskey-making techniques will allow us to produce exceptional Kentucky whiskeys for many decades to come"

Bravo’s Top Chef Visits Maker’s Mark

Bravo television show Top Chef has filmed an episode at Maker's Mark titled 'Bourbon, Barrels and Burgoo' that will air at 9 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 13th. In their latest email, Maker's Mark has said that:

Both Bravo’s Top Chef and Maker’s Mark put a premium on the use of quality ingredients and a focus on flavor. That made the visit to our distillery by Bravo’s Top Chef judges and the show’s talented “cheftestants” a natural choice.

Food & Wine Rates 25 Most Important Bourbons Ever Made

Food & Wine brought together 23 bourbon experts to list out the 25 most important bourbons ever made. The experts are comprised of a mixture of distillers, writers/historians, and whiskey bar or store owners. The list was rated by the following criteria:

'Each participant named five to ten bourbons that made a difference—not their favorite bourbons, or the ones they thought tasted best, but those bottles that were influential, innovative or otherwise held a significant place in bourbon history'

Buffalo Trace Introduces Old Charter Oak Bourbon Collection

Buffalo Trace has announced the creation of a new bourbon collection called Old Charter Oak. The new brand will be unique in that it will use barrels produced with various types and species of oak, which will bring out unique flavors and taste profiles.

"Most bourbon whiskey is aged in oak from the American Ozarks, but Buffalo Trace distillery wondered if barrels made from oak trees grown in China, or Canada, or France would create bourbons with a different taste profile. What about trees grown in different states? Does a barrel produced from a tree grown in Georgia differ from a barrel produced from a tree grown in Oregon? Further, what about red oak, or pin oak, or laurel oak, would barrels produced from these oak species produce bourbons with different taste profiles?"

Basil Hayden's Announces New Limited Release 10-Year-Old Bourbon

Basil Hayden's Bourbon is currently our highest rated bourbon that we've reviewed so you can imagine our excitement hearing they are releasing a limited edition 10-year bourbon just in time for the holiday season.

According to the press release, the new 10 year bourbon: 

"Features the brand's trademark high-rye bourbon recipe, aged longer in American Oak barrels to offer an additional layer of complexity to an already distinctive whiskey. The extra aging delivers heightened oak aromas along with hints of char and vanilla"

Ohio Department of Commerce Introduces Ohio Liquor

The Ohio Department of Commerce has announced the creation of the 'Ohio Liquor' brand. From the initial announcement:

"Ohio Liquor was created to guide the future of the retail shopping experience, provide education about spirituous liquor and ensure consistency across the multiple touch points within the Ohio Liquor Enterprise."

Christie's to Auction Rare and Pre-Prohibition Bourbon

On December 7 Christie’s in New York will be offering extremely rare pre-prohibition era bourbon and whiskey. They are calling it:

'The largest collection of pre-prohibition whiskey ever to appear at auction, a truly once in a lifetime chance for collectors of American spirits to drink their piece of American history. Featuring Old Crow 1912 and deep quantities of Hermitage 1914 from W. A. Gaines amongst others, this is truly a unique chance to acquire rarities with perfect provenance and documented history.'

Bottle of Scotch Whisky Sells for Record $1.528 Million Dollars!

Christie's Auction House has announced that an ultra-rare bottle of 1926 Macallan whisky that features a bottle painted by Irish artist Michael Dillon has sold for an astounding $1,528,800! Aside from being a 60 year old whisky, what makes this unique is the one of a kind bottle painting by Michael Dillon. According to the listing:

The bottle painting was commissioned and offered for sale through Fortnum & Mason in London in 1999. Christie’s are delighted to be offering this unique Macallan 1926 60-Year-Old Michael Dillon bottle, which is unquestionably the 'Holy Grail' for whisky collectors as it is truly one-of-a-kind.  

The bottle which beautifully depicts the Easter Elchies House of The Macallan and the Scottish Highlands is offered in a luxurious “The Macallan 60 Year Old” wooden presentation case with a certificate of authenticity from The Macallan. 

Bulleit 95 Rye Frontier Whiskey Review

Welcome to the review for Bulleit 95 Rye Frontier Whiskey

Manufacturer: Diagio

Age: Unknown

Location Produced: MGP, Lawrenceburg, IN

Mash Bill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley

Aroma (from manufacturer): Rich and oaky

Taste (from manufacturer): Smooth, with hints of vanilla, honey, and spice

Finish (from manufacturer): Crisp and clean, with long, lingering flavors

Alcohol: 45%

Who is this for?: This rye is for people who want a good tasting whiskey at a very reasonable price. I would also recommend for newcomers to the whiskey world.

This is a great drink on the rocks or for the more sophisticated bourbon and whiskey mixed drinks.

Cost (Ohio): $23.99 + tax for 750ml, $28.99 + tax for 1 liter (best deal)

Let's start the review!

Taste -  Score 27 out of 35

Kentucky Owl Announces New Planned Distillery

Kentucky Owl has announced a $150 million dollar plans for a 420 acre pyramid shaped distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Instead of the preferred pyramid builder Ramesses II, Kentucky Owl has hired Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban to design the distillery.

2018 Columbus Bourbon Holiday Gift Guide

Welcome to the first ever ColumbusBourbon.com holiday gift guide. I've identified a few ideas for the bourbon lover in your life at various price points.

1. The Phantom Mini Ice Maker - Wintersmiths.com ($85) - My friend Matty G and I have spent more time and effort trying to make clear whiskey cubes than we care to admit. Our goal was to make crystal clear ice cubes... We started with tap water, then distilled, then boiled, then anything else we could think of... Nothing ever worked. From what we finally researched, the proper technique involves coolers within coolers and flipping things over and it's way too involved....

Thankfully, the Phantom Mini Ice Maker will take care of the clear ice for you. It is a bit expensive, but is a fun gift for anyone who is hard to shop for or has gone through the same struggle as we did.

Ohio Division of Liquor Control Announces Four Roses 130th Anniversary Raffle

The Ohio Division of Liquor Control (ODLC) has announced yet another raffle for their limited supply bourbons. This time for the Four Roses 130th Anniversary limited edition small batch.

The auction will occur Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 · 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the following locations:

O'Bryan's Wine & Spirits - 30 Bottles
8972 Columbia Road Unit A, Loveland

Location Change - Walt's Churchill Market - 24 Bottles
3320 Briarfield Boulevard, Maumee

Giant Eagle - 36 Bottles
6700 Perimeter Loop Road, Dublin

Buehler's - 30 Bottles
1055 Sugarbush Drive, Ashland

The price is $149.99 plus tax. From the ODLC, the information on Four Roses:

Buffalo Trace Announces Lighting of the Trace on November 29

Buffalo Trace Distillery has announced that they will be kicking off the season on November 29th with a host of holiday festivities for their 20th year of celebrating the holidays. New this year will be a brand new route for their drive-through lights display.

Per Buffalo Trace, the opening night schedule will be as follows:

Bonus Post - Mini-Review - New Riff Bottled In Bond

Welcome to the second mini review. This one is the New Riff Bottled in Bond. I was given two ounces by friend of the site, Ashwin!

Manufacturer: New Riff Distilling

Age: 4 years

Mash Bill: 65% Corn  30% Rye  5% Malted Barley

Alcohol: 50%

Ohio Division of Liquor Control Announces Blood Oath Trilogy Pack Raffle

The Ohio Division of Liquor Control (ODLC) has announced yet another raffle for their limited supply bourbons. This time for something called the Blood Oath Trilogy Pack.

The auction will occur Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018 · 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the following locations:

Walt Churchill's Market - 6 Packs
3320 Briarfield Boulevard, Maumee

Jungle Jim's - 6 Packs
5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield

Giant Eagle - 10 Packs
3061 Kingsdale Center, Upper Arlington

North Court Beverage - 6 packs
998 North Court Street, Medina

The price is $599.98 plus tax. Per the ODLC, the information on Blood Oath is:

2018 Ohio Bottle Lottery Information

The Ohio Division of Liquor Control (ODLC) has announced details on an auction for the Pappy Van Winkle Family Collection and/or the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. The entries will need to be completed online at www.com.ohio.gov/liqr/BottleLottery starting on at 12:01 a.m on December 10th and ending at 11:59 p.m. on December 21.

Per the ODLC, The following will be required when registering:

• First Name

Heaven Hill Announces $65 Million Dollar Expansion

Heaven Hill Distillery announced plans for a $65 million dollar investment to renovate, expand, and rebrand their visitor experience in Bardstown, KY. This expansion will also allow expanded production capacity. From the announcement, some of the new experiences will include:

Cleveland Black Reserve Bourbon Review

Welcome to the review for Cleveland Black Reserve Bourbon. Let's start with the stats from the manufacturer.

Manufacturer: Cleveland Whiskey (I think.... this one is hard to find information on and their website is really bad)

Age: 6 Months

Location Produced: Aged and Bottled in Cleveland

Mash Bill: Unknown

Aroma (from manufacturer): Not listed

Taste (from manufacturer): Not listed

Finish (from manufacturer): Not listed

Alcohol: 50%

Who is this for?: Grover Cleveland, Moses Cleveland (he invented Cleveland), Cleveland Brown from Family Guy, Ricky Vaughn, People in this video...

Cost (Ohio): $31.98 + tax

Alright, let's get to the review! This is the first Ohio bourbon that I'm reviewing, and, as an added bonus, I'm doing this with a guest review, the great Johny K.

Review: Taste -  Score 15 out of 35

Cleveland Whiskey is unique in the way that they create their bourbon flavor. Rather than the traditional approach of aging years in a charred oak barrel for many years, the Cleveland technique is to let sit in the barrel for 6 months, then transfer to stainless steel vats filled with American oak and applying pressure to the vats that allows the bourbon to take the flavor of the wood. The distiller says their bourbon can be ready in as little as 24 hours using this method. Will this technique be better than traditional bourbons? Let's take a look.

With the pour, this Cleveland starts with a light to medium nose. Drinking, we didn't get a ton of unique flavor, and the flavor I did get wasn't enjoyable. When I gave the Duchess a taste, she picked up hints of nutmeg, but that didn't come across to Johny or myself. I found the flavor to be a bit harsh and bitter. I needed to add a heavy splash of water before I could tolerate it without making the bitter beer face. This could be due to the process that Cleveland uses or a higher alcohol content. Either way, we both don't think this bourbon tastes very good.

Smoothness/Finish - Score 18.5 out of 25

Ohio Liquor Laws - Mixing Dumb with Dumber

TL:DR - The state controls what is sold, when, where, and the price, which inhibits a free market and oversteps the role government should play in society by limiting the supply and demand for liquor.

Since starting this blog, I've received a fair amount of questions as to why availability is part of the scoring criteria? I thought it would be beneficial to write a post on how liquor works in Ohio, why it is a antiquated system, and what should happen in the future.

The way the current law works in Ohio is that all liquor sold in the state has to be sold from a state-run liquor store. The

Bonus Post - Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour

Welcome to the third distillery tour bonus post. Our first two looked at Woodford Reserve and Maker's Mark. Today I'm focusing on the beautiful Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Included in the pictures below are some of the warehouses, some of the tour stops, as well as the bottling facility. When we went, they were bottling Blanton's.

Woodford Reserve Malt Review

Welcome to the review for Woodford Reserve Straight Malt Whiskey. Our first review that isn't a bourbon. Let's get started.

Manufacturer: Brown-Forman

Age: Unknown

Location Produced: Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY

Mash Bill: 51% Malted Barley, 47% Corn, 2% Rye

Aroma (from manufacturer): Soft nutty notes drizzled with light caramel and milk chocolate coat a layer of fruit character (apple, dried fruit, tropical fruit). Hints of brown spice, savory mint and brown sugar mingle with a rich note of freshly milled toasted oak.

Taste (from manufacturer): Dark chocolate and caramel coated nuts are dried out with a dusting of cocoa powder and brown spice. A fruit medley brightens a trace of toasted coconut and rich, bright oak character.

Finish (from manufacturer): Nutty and subtly sweet chocolate malt notes

Alcohol: 45.2%

Who is this for?: People looking to try something new

Cost (Ohio): $34.99 + tax

Review:  Taste -  Score 23 out of 35

I wish I had the palate to distinguish everything they say is in the notes. I think the nose is good, but nothing overly unique that would set this apart from other whiskeys. In terms of the taste, it is a bit too alcholly (I made up a word!). This could be from not enough time in the barrel or due to the mash bill, but the main flavor I pick up the alcohol and it's a tad bit harsh for my liking. I will preface this review saying that this is the first malt whiskey that I've ever had so I'm comparing it to the bourbons and rye that I'm accustomed to.

Smoothness/Finish - Score 11 out of 25

The finish on this

Bonus Post - Mini Review - Knob Creek Single Barrel

Welcome to the mini review for Know Creek Single Barrel. I was given two ounces by friend of the site, Ashwin!

Manufacturer: Beam Suntory (Jim Beam)

Age: 12 years, 3 months, 3 days

Mash Bill: Unknown (however, most Knob Creek are 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley)

Alcohol: 60%

Bonus Post - Maker's Mark Distillery Tour

Welcome to the second distillery tour bonus post. Our first looked at Woodford Reserve. Today I'm focusing on the stunning Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky where you can see how the bourbon is made and even dip your own bottle of Maker's Mark.

Some of the takeaways from this tour were that the Maker's Mark grounds are absolutely beautiful. This was by far the most picturesque of the distilleries that I have been to. Also, seeing how each bottle was hand dipped and having the chance to dip your own is a must do.

Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Review

Welcome to the review for Evan Williams 1783

Manufacturer: Heaven Hill

Age: Unknown

Location Produced: Bardstown, Kentucky

Mash Bill: Unknown

Aroma (from manufacturer): Oaky vanilla, sautéed butter, and sweet corn

Taste (from manufacturer): Semi-sweet, oaky, and honeyed

Finish (from manufacturer): Lean, off-dry, and regal

Alcohol: 43%

Who is this for?: People looking for a cheaper, yet decent bourbon. I would recommend for mixing, infusions, as well as drinking on the rocks.

Cost (Ohio): $18.99



Review: Taste - As always, we'll start with the taste. For a $19 dollar bottle, this has a decent amount of flavor. I did get the flavor of the oak, however, I didn't get any honey. Surprisingly, it goes down pretty well for a bourbon this cheap. Score 26 out of 35

Smoothness/Finish - This one lingers a bit. It's funny that Heaven Hill says that the finish is 'regal'. My first car when I turned 16 was a 1984 Buick Regal (Olympic edition). What made this car unique is that

Bonus Post - Apple Cinnamon Infused Bulleit

Welcome to the instructions and review for our first infusion. For this one I want to do something different and fun so I am creating a cinnamon/granny smith infused Bulleit Rye. This is something anyone can do to add variety and excitement for their bourbon and makes a wonderful autumn drink.

Ingredients:

• 750ml of Bulleit Rye (or a bourbon of your choice. I recommend something on the cheaper end because it will inherit the taste of the ingredients)
• 1 or 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 granny smith apples
• 1 large mason jar
• Cheesecloth or strainer

Willett Straight Rye Family Estate Review

Welcome to the review for Willett Straight Family Estate Bottled Small Batch Rye

Manufacturer: Kentucky Bourbon Distillers

Age: 3 years

Location Produced: The Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY

Mash Bill: Unknown

Aroma (from manufacturer): Beautiful layering of brandied cherry over a mildly tart cherry. It opens up with time and is reminiscent of cutting into your desert with your fork which releases cinnamon and baking spices with just a hint of oak to remind you that this is high proof youthful.

Taste (from manufacturer): A robust rye with dark cherry, burnt vanilla, and spices for days. It's a delicious rye with a weighty mouthfeel. Balance - It is insanely well balanced with the alcohol so perfectly integrated at 115 proof you'll forget its there, but you'll find yourself smiling more and happier with each dram.

Finish (from manufacturer): Long and the spices dominate this batch, while the cherry does punch its way through to the surface.

Alcohol: 54.5%

Who is this for?: People who like sipping their bourbon. At nearly 55% alcohol, this isn't for college kids.

Cost (Ohio): Not available in Ohio... $79.99 online

Review: Taste - Score 28 out of 35

This rye has a really nice, sweet nose that doesn't overpower you with the alcohol. For a whiskey at nearly 55%, it didn't come though on the palette, which is great. Johny got hints of vanilla, which weren't on the flavor profile. Overall, this was an enjoyable, solid rye.

Bonus Post - Woodford Reserve Distillery

If you are ever lucky enough to find yourself Versailles, Kentucky, I strongly recommend taking a tour and a tasting at the beautiful Woodford Distillery. I've been fortunate enough to done this twice. The first time in 2011 and then again in 2016 and want to share some of the experience with the readers of the blog.

The grounds of the distillery are beautiful and historic with the stone aging rooms and retired copper pot stills still visible.

Basil Hayden's Bourbon Review

Welcome to the review for Basil Hayden's Bourbon. Our very first review. Let's get started!

Manufacturer: Beam Suntory (Jim Beam)

Age: Unknown

Location Produced: Basil Hayden's Distillery, Clermont, KY

Mash Bill: 63% corn, 27% rye, 10 % barley

Aroma (from manufacturer): Spice, Tea, Hint of Peppermint

Taste (from manufacturer): Spicy, Light-bodied, gentle bite

Finish (from manufacturer): Dry, Clean, Brief

Alcohol: 40%

Who is this for?: Everyone, especially those that may not be enthusiasts who want an easy to drink straight, yet delicious bourbon.

Cost (Ohio): $39.98 + tax

Let's get to the review!

Taste - Score 29 out of 35

As the manufacturer describes it, Basil Hayden's is very light bodied with a gentle bite. Unlike other bourbons, this doesn't leave an overly alcohol taste. It stays on the palate the perfect time for me. Some people call it bourbon water due to the 40% alcohol, light color, and smoothness. I disagree and call it delicious.