Pine Bluffs Distilling Straight Rye Whiskey

Mutt here!  Most of you may not know this, but my family and I have been having a love affair with Wyoming for many years.  It is one of our "go to" destinations on vacation whenever we can - at least once a year.  It made perfect sense when I was given the opportunity to taste this revolutionary straight rye whiskey.  It is Pine Bluffs Distilling Straight Rye Whiskey from where else but Pine Bluffs, Wyoming.

Pine Bluffs, Wyoming is about as far southeast as you can go without landing in neighboring Nebraska and their "Farm to Flask" approach is both honorable and impressive as they meticulously oversee every single step from growing grains to bottling.  When we first discovered Pine Bluffs and saw the John Deere equipment adorning their website, we knew these were good people!  They are currently producing a half dozen whiskies, a gin and a vodka.  Today we're checking out the straight rye whiskey.

This bottle was really a nice surprise.  Pine Bluffs Distilling tells you bottle is "what the devil sold his soul for" but to me, it tastes more like angelic tears.  Yes, it has that spicy side, but it is so much more than your typical peppery rye.  The dark honey color in the newly designed bottle is inviting and the mash bill of 68% rye, 14% malted white wheat, 14% malt and 4% oats initially gives off an earthy vibe combined with cinnamon and dill.  This bottle from Batch 10 was opened about 15 minutes prior to tasting neat in a Glencairn.

First tastes gave me spearmint and dill flavors and the mid-palate spice settled down to a nuttier profile of almonds and pecans.  The finish really lingers for minutes and this is a GREAT introduction into our world of Pine Bluffs Distilling!

Check out Mutt's 3 minute YouTube video and inital thoughts!

ABV:  49.5% (99 proof)

Distillery:  Pine Bluffs Distilling

Suggested retail price:  $49.00

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

 

Pine Bluffs Distilling Ryed Bourbon

Jeff here.  Mutt and I tag teamed the bottles we received from Pine Bluffs Distilling out of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming and we were super impressed by everything from the packaging, their website and of course, the whiskey.  Today I'm tasting and discussing Pine Bluffs Distilling Ryed Bourbon, a high corn mash bill that consists of corn (60%), rye (20%) and malt (20%).  

When Chad and Theresa Brown set out to build their dream in southeast Wyoming, the distillery was a pipe dream from the creation of home distilling.  The unassuming, state-of-the-art distillery "in the middle of nowhere" now supports the local community with everything from purchasing local grains to providing local jobs for people passionate about whiskey and other spirits.

The first thing I noticed about this Batch 11 Ryed Bourbon was the bottle.  If you've been around here long enough, you know how I feel about the importance of smart packaging from the top to the bottom and the front to the back.  The WYOMING FARM TO FLASK embossing, the weight of the bottle and the simple but effective label round out the package.  But enough about that.  Let's get into it.

You'll notice when you pour this into the glass that it is not necessary crystal clear.  Pine Bluffs Distilling does not chill filter their spirits, so you're are likely going to get that raw haziness that comes from leaving out that process.  Respectable.  Dark caramel color with a sweeter nose that encourages roasted corn, vegetable garden, honeysuckle and cinnamon aromas.  Incredibly smooth and full-bodied feel that coats the mouth with flavors that resemble the nose.  After a couple of sips I picked up additional flavors of herbs, pumpkin, roasted sweet potatoes and the finish.  If you're a lower proof fan or are just looking for something to sip neat, this bottle deserves your attention.  It's delicious!

Jeff's YouTube video review of Pine Bluffs Distilling Ryed Bourbon

ABV:  46.0 % (92 proof)

Distillery:  Pine Bluffs Distilling

Suggested retail price:  $45.00

Drink The Bottles score:  92/100

 

Town Branch Overproof Kentucky Straight Whiskey

 

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company produces some of our favorite products from both the brewing and distilling sides of things.  Their bourbon barrel ale is an absolute game changer in the beer arena.  So far, every one of their whiskeys have resonated with us and our readers, and this one is no exception.  This is the Overproof Kentucky Straight Whiskey under the Town Branch label.  

This is a smart blend of four Kentucky straight whiskeys:  Bourbon Whiskey (70%), Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (10%), Double Oak Whiskey (10%) and Rye Whiskey (10%).  At just 10% Rye and the remaining liquid Bourbon, this is incredibly smooth and flavorful with a finish that is literally mouth-watering.  The mash bills on these whiskeys is:  Bourbon (72% corn, 15% rye, 13% barley), Wheated Bourbon (70% corn, 22% wheat, 8% barley), Double Oak (72% corn, 15% rye, 13% barley finsihes in 90% rye, 5% corn, 5% barley barrels) and Rye (90% rye, 5% corn, 5% barley).  The whiskey ages from four to eight years old.

Those are a lot of numbers to digest, so lets get to the important stuff.  What did we think?

Tasted from a small sample bottle (you can see that in the video below), we tasted this three ..... yes THREE times!  After filming, we finished this bottle because we kept finding new descriptors and the last tasting was after we let this sit in a Glencairn (neat) for about 45 minutes.  Initially we discovered cotton candy, sweet hard candy, fig Newtons and clove on the nose.  There was a nicely balanced proportion of sweetness up front that carried through to the chewy and savory flavors.  Golden raisin, flavored honey sticks, baking spice and pumpkin pie spice rounded out the layers palate-pleasing goodness.  Another bonus about this bottle?  It is an incredible value!

Check out our 3 minute YouTube video!

ABV:  52.0% (104 proof)

Distillery:  Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.

Suggested retail price:  $39.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Row 94 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

It's no secret that sometimes celebrity-endorsed products don't work out.  The celebrity walks away with a sack of cash and the company behind the madness is stuck trying to convince consumers that the product is worth spending their hard-earned money.  Unfortunately, the result is often having an abundance of non-selling product sitting on shelves for months upon months.  That will NOT be the case here.  We tasted and thoroughly enjoyed Row 94 Straight Bourbon Whiskey, distilled by Green River Distilling Company and endorsed by country and bluegrass superstar Dierks Bentley.  The name comes from Nashville's Music Row and the year that Bentley fell in love with country.  The Thunderbird logo represent his album Riser.

When we first popped this cork, we knew we were in for a ride.  Gold-orange in the glass, this bourbon is full of orange marmalade and sweet chocolate aromas.  In the mouth is a savory and bright candy bomb, framed by chocolate covered orange cookies, Italian sweet chocolate, Biscoff cookie butter, island fruits and toffee.  The mash bill is 70% Kentucky grown corn, 21% rye and 9% malted and row barley.  We are huge fans of Green River Distilling, so we had a sneaky suspicion we were going to be instant fans of this bourbon.  And we are.  And you will be too. 

Gimmick?  Hardly.  Flavorful and worth the price?  No doubt.  Will Bentley and Green River produce additional expressions?  Time will tell.  But, if they do, we will be first in line to try them!

Check out our YouTube review of Row 94!

ABV:  47.0% (94 proof)

Distillery:  Green River Distilling Company

Suggested retail price:  $49.99

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

 

2019 Hedges Family Estate La Haute Cuvée

 

The Red Mountain AVA of Benton County, Washington produces some of the finest grapes of the region, cultivating into wines that have unique expressions and Old World charm.  The 2019 Hedges Family Estate La Haute Cuvée is a fine example of terroir and the feel of a wine that could be cellared for 15+ years.  Winemaker Sara Goedhart has nearly 10 years as head winemaker at Hedges Family Estate and her twenty plus years in the business is evident in the bottle we have today.

Gorgeous, deep eggplant color that oozes to the edge of the glass.  This wine was not decanted but it was provided about twenty minutes of air time in the glass prior to tasting.  The first thing we noticed about this wine was how herbaceous it is and not the fruit bomb we may have been expecting.  Again, Old World style here all the way.  Fresh blackberries, dark chocolate shavings, pencil lead, mocha and leather blended effortlessly, each trying to take their turns to shine but not overpowering one another.  On the tongue is a satisfying, mouth-coating offering that offered more black fruits, baked Shiitake mushroom, garden herbs, fennel and damp earth.  

This is one of those wines that surprised us, but in the loveliest way possible.  It spent over 2 years in oak and the tannins are refined and minute.  Our recommendation?  Buy a half or whole case of this wine, open a bottle per year and see how it continues to develop.  We think there could likely be fifty more descriptors that could come out of this bottle.  It's a real treat.

ABV:  13.5%

Appellation:  Red Mountain AVA

Winery:  Hedges Family Estate

652 cases produced

Suggested retail price:  $75.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100 

William Larue Weller 2024 Bourbon

 

While we can't say for certain that the 2024 release of William Larue Weller is the best BTAC bottle, it sure put a smile on our face and made us really take notice.  It's not often that we get to taste the hard-to-find releases from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, but this was very exciting for us and we had heard grumblings from several sources that this year's expression was delicious.  They weren't wrong.

At just over 12 years, this bourbon aged in barrels on the lower levels of the rickhouse after entering at 114 proof before the long and important nap.  Fruit basket, floral notes with oak and homemade caramel candies on the nose.  "Wow" was the first thing that Mutt said and he picked up shoe leather, toffee, spice and sweet tobacco.  Jeff called this a fruit bomb with caramel and a nice lingering spice along with chocolate covered candies.  Honeysuckle, orange rind and chocolate nose.  Both guys agreed that the orange marmalade and chocolate really shined through on the tongue.  Lightly toasted marshmallow comes through on the finish and you feel the higher proof come through to give you that welcoming and warm Kentucky hug.  While we wouldn't pay crazy secondary or museum prices for this bottle, we would snag this all day long if we happened to find one close to MSRP.  It's lovely.

Check out our YouTube video review!

ABV:  62.90% (125.8 proof)

Distillery:  Buffalo Trace Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $149.99

Drink The Bottles score:  95/100

Eagle Rare 17 Year 2024

 

The 2024 BTAC (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection) has just been released and whiskey enthusiasts are scrambling to make back alley deals and beg with their buddies at the liquor store to find these bottles for them.  Without a doubt, the BTAC bottles are some of the most difficult to capture (especially at MSRP) and there is always a frenzy around the release dates every year.

This is the Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon, offered at 101 proof and highly allocated.  Compared to the standard 10 year Eagle Rare at 90 proof, this one packs a little more punch and depth, due largely in part to the additional 7 years in the barrel.  The age statement on this is actually 17 years and 4 months for the 2024 release.  We tasted this from a 100 mL sample bottle neat in Glencairn glasses... multiple times.  It's amazing how quickly that sample bottle will run out!

On the nose we didn't get the herbal tea that we often experience from Eagle Rare 10 Year.  That's more prevalent on single barrel selections we have tasted.  Sometimes with bourbon that is aged in the 15-plus timeframe, you get an overly oaky char bomb, but we were pleasantly surprised that while the whiskey showed its age in oak notes, it wasn't over the top and it added to the complexity of the flavors.  Biscuit, chewy roasted marshmallow, graham cracker, stewed plum, toasty oats and cinnamon on the nose.  On the palate is more of the same but adding in cherry pie filling and cherry cola at mid palate.  This has the viscosity of apricot juice and it is absolutely mouth-coating.  The finish is memorable and warm. 

We generally don't review bourbons that are so allocated, but we are thrilled to have this opportunity.  Even if you can't find this bottle to add to your whiskey library, we highly encourage you to find a bar that has it and get yourself a 2 ounce pour.  It's an incredible experience!

Check out our YouTube video review!

ABV:  50.5% (101 proof)

Distillery:  Buffalo Trace Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $149.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100