Spirit Hound Distillers Colorado Bourbon Whiskey

 

Due north of Boulder, Colorado sits a small town of about 2200 residents and an unsuspecting distillery, born out of the reamins of and old motorcycle repair shop.  Head distiller and co-founder CraigEngelhorn (aka Hair of the Dog) had a dream to take his home-brewed beer hobby to the next level.  With the help of some like-minded friends, Spirit Hound Distillers was born.

Today we're tasting two expressions from Spirit Hound.  The first up is the Barrel Project Bourbon, a single barrel bourbon finished in Amercan single malt whiskey barrels.  We should first start by pointing out that every time SHD (Spirit Hound Distillers) refers to WHISKEY, the use the alternative, sans "e".  We don't.  We are "E" people through and through.  But we all have the same love for the stuff in the bottle.

This is a really nice lower entry proof bourbon that is as laid back as a Coloradan on a holiday weekend.  Light to medium brown, full of buttery maple syrup and vanilla bean on the nose.  It's very inviting!  Cherries, strawberry, eucalyptus and baked sweet potatoes play nice with each other mid palate, leading to a mild peppery finish that you won't soon forget.  This isn't just a win for SHD or Colorado, but for the whiskey community as a whole.  

ABV:  43.0% (86 proof)

Distillery:  Spirit Hound Distillers

Suggested retail price:  $67.99

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

Now this is the epitome of Colorado, at least to us.  This limited-release is a straight malt whiskey finished in Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) barrels from Founders Brewing of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Despite its lighter color, this whiskey shows off some deep aromas of country road, chocolate and vanilla.  On the palate is quite the pleasant surprise with vanilla, mocha bits, very milk oak, charred mixed nuts and cardimom.  The finish throws some heat your way to make sure you're paying attention.  Don't let the proof fool you.  This bottle is one to take note of and one that probably won't last long at your home bar!

ABV:  45.0% (90 proof)

Distillery:  Spirit Hound Distillers

Suggested retail price:  $71.99

Drink The Bottles score:  89/100

Lux Row Small Batch Rye PX Sherry Cask Finish

 

Our friends at Lux Row Distillers have another hit on their hands!  This new, limited-release bottle is their Small Batch Rye finished in PX Sherry Casks.  For finished whiskey lovers, this is one you'll want to seek out.  For straight rye fans, this one will appeal to you as well.  So many distilleries are finishing whiskey in about every type of previously-used spirits container you can think of, and Lux Row has this talent fine-tuned.

Tasted from sample, this is brown sugar in color.  On the nose is a sweeter fruity note, fig pudding, hints of flower bouquet and grape.  We dug right into this one and found that the palate was not as sweet as we had anticipated or that was hinted from the nose.  Mutt got spice up front while Jeff took note of the espresso bean taste.  The spice tapered off quickly and suggested cinnamon stick, fig and roasted nuts (specifically cashews) on the back end.  This was literally mouth-watering.

While this is a limited release, it is available at the distillery and will be released in select markets in January 2025.   Check out our YouTube video review below.

ABV:  56.0% (112 proof)

Distillery:  Lux Row Distillers

Suggested retail price:  $59.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Series VIII

 

The newest batch of Remus Repeal Reserve is hitting shelves now and there's a lot to be excited about with this Series VIII release.  Master Distiller Ian Stirsman made some changes by blind tasting this and ultimately deciding on 101 proof and by also using a higher proportion of high rye recipe bourbon than in previous releases.  While some Remus Repeal Reserve releases have had more components in the final blend, the ten-to-seventeen year old aged bourbons really fire on all cylinders and have created a fantastic pour.

Series VIII is comprised of 9% 2007 bourbon (21% rye), 24% 2014 bourbon (21% rye) and 67% 2014 bourbon (36% rye).  The older bourbon definitely shows it hand in this expression, displaying aromas of cherry syrup, fine bound book leather, roasted nuts, vanilla and overly ripe plums.  It is mouth-watering and immediately eye-opening and it is reminiscent of your dad's bourbon that he purchased twenty years ago and occasionally sipped on when mom was away.

The initial taste offered elements of cherry cordial, light mocha beans, dried fruits, baking spice and light pepper.  Very silky on the palate and easy to approach for another sip..... and another.  It's sweet but stays in check by the pepper and oaky balance that rounds out the finish.  This is an fine example of the art of blending, tasting, testing and presenting the best effort of that work.  The Remus Repeal Reserve series has been increasingly popular over the years and this is a testament to why you need to try to find this for your home bar!

ABV:  50.5% (101 proof)

Distillery:  Ross & Squibb 

Suggested retail price:  $99.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

 

One thing you know about us is that we love unique.  And since Jeff has been heavily involved in wine for so many years, this whiskey caught his attention.  To our knowlege, this is the first whiskey aged in the "sur lie" method, or at least the only one currently on the market.  This method of aging wine (and now spirits for this example) was introduced by the French to incorporate more complex flavors and aromas to the product.  Let's take a look at this bottle and see how this process faired for the Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey.

The first thing we noticed is how Redemption knocked it out of the park with the label and packaging.  While some may find the label too busy, we really like how the label explains the entire process from mashing to enjoying a glass of this straight rye whiskey.  Education is a big part of this bottle as it is isolated from everything else on the market.  The 95% rye and 5% mash bill, non-chill filtered three year whiskey drinks more like a 5-6 year due to the "sur lie" method and periodic rolling of the barrels.  

Hazy golden color, similar of a sultry summer sunset right before it disappears over the horizon.  We weren't expecting a heavily roasted marshmallow aroma, but it was instantly mouth-watering.  Dry straw, evergreen needles, and caramel chews also made an appearance.  This is incredibly viscous and if that's your thing, you're going to savor this whiskey!  Light brown sugar, orange marmalade, sweet grain and hints of star anise on the palate led to a really nice push of rye with medium heat on the finish.  The mouthfeel is what really stood out to us as far as uniqueness of this bottle.  The "on the lees" method of aging created the viscosity but time and subsequent batches of this whiskey will tell whether or not sur lie aging added enough flavor for the distillery to abandon the practice.  Either way, we really enjoyed this one and hope you do too!

ABV:  47.0% (94 proof)

Distillery:  MGP for Redemption

Suggested retail price:  $60.00

Drink The Bottles score:  90/100

Still Austin Whiskey Company - Cask Strength Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys

 

If you've been following the whiskey world for any period of time, you no doubt have heard the phrases "grain to glass" and "craft distillery".  For whiskey enthusiasts, these phrases have a cult-like following as many view the grain to glass designation as the best and only way to truly make whiskey and appreciate the craft involved, beginning to end.  While we know that not every distillery has the ability to make this their practice, we certainly appreciate keeping everything in-house when possible.  To us, it often improves the quality and overall production of the spirits.

Still Austin Whiskey Company was the brain child of recent retiree Cleveland Seals and he sought the help of his son Chris to explore the reality of whether or not to open a distillery.  The pair drew closer, spent a ton of time together, drank a lot of whiskey, had deep conversations and eventually arrived to the decision that the Texas hill country needed a distillery.. But not just any distillery.  They wanted to craft a product that was completely representative of the area, with local sourced grains and the ability to oversee what goes into every bottle from start to finish.  

We had the opportunity to explore two of Still Austin's cask strength offerings - their bourbon and their rye whiskey.  The bourbon has a minimum of a 2 year age statement while the rye isn't disclosed just yet.  For you whiskey snobs, you've probably already clicked off of this article after reading the previous sentence.  But if you were patient and openminded enough to stick around, let us just say this:  color.   Look at the color.  Do these bottles look like they've been sitting in char #3 barrels for only 2 years?  Nope.  That's the beauty of the hill country weather.  The fluctuations, going from one extreme to another, really give the barrels a work out and many people argue that the whiskey tends to age in half the time as many other parts of the country.  Let's take a look!

The Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey is an enchanting, pecan-colored whiskey featuring an eye-catching label of "The Musician", created by Austin artist Marc Burkhardt.  Burkhardt creates all of the original label which adds to the appeal.  The mash bill contains Texas grains consisting of white corn (70%), rye (25%) and malted barley (5%).  First aromas feel like we are in grandma's kitchen as she whips up some homemade biscuits with fresh blackberry jam.  There's a lovely minty and sweetness that arrives after some time out of the bottle and in the glass.  On the palate we noticed reduced brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ripe stone fruits and mint.  The finish was very warm and the mint really came through.  Thoroughly impressed with this.  Still Austin's first bottle release of any spirit was in 2020 during the height of Covid.  We really hope they are keeping some barrels in storage as we would love to see what a 6, 8 or 10 year Still Austin would taste like (assuming the Angel's Share wouldn't grab all of the liquid!).

ABV:  59.0% (118 proof)

Distillery:  Still Austin Whiskey

Suggested retail price:  $60.00

Drink The Bottles score:  94/100

The Still Austin Cask Strength Rye Whiskey is an inviting hickory-colored and aromatic whiskey that is mouth-watering and beautiful.  Made from 100% Texas rye, this is a blend of the best-of-the-best rye barrels from Master Blender Nancy Fraley.  If you know the name, you know her work and there were not shortcuts here.  This is beautiful.  Berry pie, cinnamon and tropical fruits on the nose.  Mint, pencil shavings, lemon meringue, whip creeme and almond cookies with plenty of spice on the tongue.  There is a hint of mint and apricots on the very long and satisfying finish.  Rye fans, you'll want to get your hands on this!

ABV:  58.0% (116 proof)

Distillery:  Still Austin Whiskey

Suggested retail price:  $65.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Iowa Legendary Rye Gold Label Whiskey

 

In the midwest sits a small town of under 11,000 people, producing their self-proclaimed #1 Rye Whiskey in the World.  Carroll, Iowa is home to Iowa Legendary Rye Distillery, where they create pre-Prohibition rye whiskey using a bootlegger's recipe and cooking up trouble in 26-gallon pot stills.  They age their craft in small, 15 gallon casks, always using all-natural ingredients and doing things the old fashioned way, or in their opinion....... the right way.

This is the gold label is a fine example of a family owned secret that was finally and reluctantly passed down from Grandma Lorine Sextro.  Now that recipe lives in Iowa Legendary Rye and boy, were we in for a treat!  This small batch rye is a hand picked tri-barrel blend.  The team strives for excellence by using new barrels, barrels with experience and double distilled double barrels to create a spirit that is not only unique, but memorable.  And that's exactly what you're getting here.

Medium clover honey in color, this initially opens up with baked cinnamon apples, baking spices and just the right amount of heat from white pepper.  You know you're in good hands with experience rye distillers when their product doesn't punch you in the nose, but rather "introduces you" to what comes next.  The aromas switch to a spring meadow with fresh wild grasses and we were extremely intrigued.  On the palate was mild pepper up front with stone fruits, nutmeg and cinnamon.  The peppery notes were mild but stayed with us until the satisfying finish that made us want to pour another glass.  

Who would have thought that Iowa would be producing absolutely incredible rye whiskey?  This one is different.  This one hits just right.  This is one you need to seek and taste for yourself!

Check out our YouTube video on this bottle!

ABV:  51.5% (103 proof)

Distillery:  Iowa Legendary Rye

Suggested retail price:  $100.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

 

Hold on to your hats for this one, folks!   This is the 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.  This creation is a blend of seven and seventeen year Kentucky bourbons from Master Distiller Stephen Beam and it is tracking to become one of our favorite limited-edition releases of the year!  

We visited this bottle on three separate occasions - a "pop and pour" (see video below), a more formal tasting the next day, and a re-visit about 10 days later - all neat and all from a Glencairn.  As we describe in the video link below, we know that most folks buy a bottle and then go home and immediately taste it right away.  We knew there was something very special about this bottle which is why we tasted it multiple times and the results were so varied and incredible.

Our first impression (remember, pop-and pour) was an inviting, dusty funkness that was reminiscent of a box of old baseball cards and a sweet cigar wrapper.  There was a sweetness to the aromas that carried over to the taste from begining to end.  Subsequents tastes brought stone fruits, rhubarb, cherry cola, brown sugar, maple candy, saddle leather and honey.   There is so much going on here.  We would love to gather a group of 10 folks to taste this and we honestly think those ten people would come up with over 100 taste descriptors for this bottle.  Presented with a reddish-amber color, this 101 proof stunner is dialed in, allowing for a mouth-coating and satisfying finish.  We used adjectives like "fantastic" and "phenomenal" for this bottle.  It's incredibly special!

Our initial thoughts via our YouTube channel

ABV:  50.5% ABV (101 proof)

Distillery:  Limestone Branch Distillery for Yellowstone Bourbon

Suggested retail price:  $99.99

Drink The Bottles score:  96/100