A quiet start to the weekend, one dram of Frank August at a time.
Hot take! The 375ml bottles of JD Single Barrel are a better value, because you can try out different barrel flavor profiles in a faster manner. Its fun keeping an eye out for old Coy Hill Rickhouse aged Single Barrels that predate the Coy Hill Special releases. Happy hunting
Fighting Cock is a Kentucky straight bourbon with a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. It is NAS but it is aged at least 6 years per their website and comes in at 103 proof.
i picked it up for 24 dollars. It was worth the fight!
On the nose after dodging the ethanol, it is sweet with caramel, honeysuckle, with a background of fresh corn and nuts. Deeper whiffs bring in a little wood note that "young" or lighter charred barreled whiskies sometimes have. The nose reminded me of Mellow Corn a bit.
On the pallate, it is vanilla syrup, caramel, moving quickly to add banana and black pepper though the entire sip.
The finish is consistent and a treat. It short, leaving the results of proof as sweet, spicy heat and some drying.. The finish allows easy and quick follow up sips. It is a pleasing and easy sipper.
Water is not needed but does lessen the sweetness a bit but brings out the cherry and banana notes.
The swallow gives a quick, unremarkable mild hug.
In cocktails it makes a good Old Fashioned and a better "Grand"Old fashioned. (An Old Fashioned with a fighting cockfew drops of Grand Marnier). In complex cocktails it gets lost. It speaks of its proof and adds a bit of caramel sweetness. We tried in a Mint Julep, Cock and Comfort and Bourbon Smash. All were good.
Overall fighting Cock is easy, crushable sipper that is not complex ordemanding. It is a simple, cheap thrill in a screw cap bottle that asks nothing bit gives a decent cheap pour. Cosidering all this. Fighting Cock is 100% Blue Pig Approved!
i picked it up for 24 dollars. It was worth the fight!
On the nose after dodging the ethanol, it is sweet with caramel, honeysuckle, with a background of fresh corn and nuts. Deeper whiffs bring in a little wood note that "young" or lighter charred barreled whiskies sometimes have. The nose reminded me of Mellow Corn a bit.
On the pallate, it is vanilla syrup, caramel, moving quickly to add banana and black pepper though the entire sip.
The finish is consistent and a treat. It short, leaving the results of proof as sweet, spicy heat and some drying.. The finish allows easy and quick follow up sips. It is a pleasing and easy sipper.
Water is not needed but does lessen the sweetness a bit but brings out the cherry and banana notes.
The swallow gives a quick, unremarkable mild hug.
In cocktails it makes a good Old Fashioned and a better "Grand"Old fashioned. (An Old Fashioned with a fighting cockfew drops of Grand Marnier). In complex cocktails it gets lost. It speaks of its proof and adds a bit of caramel sweetness. We tried in a Mint Julep, Cock and Comfort and Bourbon Smash. All were good.
Overall fighting Cock is easy, crushable sipper that is not complex ordemanding. It is a simple, cheap thrill in a screw cap bottle that asks nothing bit gives a decent cheap pour. Cosidering all this. Fighting Cock is 100% Blue Pig Approved!
Bulleit Bottled in Bond's mashbill is unstated, but Bulleit normally has a mashbill of 68% corn, 28% rye and 4% malted barley. Master Blender Delicia James said in a Robb report interview that it is made with "their signature high rye mashbill and aged 7 year under bottled in bond standards."
On the nose, it is vanilla, caramel with hints of maple, and baking spice. The proof is noticeable compared to theoriginall expression. Deeper inhales bring oak char, brown sugar and cocoa powder.
The palate matches.It starts sweet with caramel and vanilla, moving to sweet maple and chocolate, and end with a raspberry and a white strawberry note.
The finish is maple, chocolate, light cinnamon, and nutmeg.
The swallow gives a modest hug that quickly diminishes and is almost absent in following swallows.
Bulleit as a brand has always been a good cocktail workhorse, and this bottle keeps that tradition.
For simplicity, we tried it in an old fashioned with rich Demarara syrup and aztec chocolate bitters and then in a Manhattan with Cocchi Vermouth. For the complex test in a Boulevardier and in a Bourbon renewal. All were excellent and enhanced by the bourbons' sweet notes, proof and spice.
Bulliet Bottled in Bond is 100% Blue Pig approved!
On the nose, it is vanilla, caramel with hints of maple, and baking spice. The proof is noticeable compared to theoriginall expression. Deeper inhales bring oak char, brown sugar and cocoa powder.
The palate matches.It starts sweet with caramel and vanilla, moving to sweet maple and chocolate, and end with a raspberry and a white strawberry note.
The finish is maple, chocolate, light cinnamon, and nutmeg.
The swallow gives a modest hug that quickly diminishes and is almost absent in following swallows.
Bulleit as a brand has always been a good cocktail workhorse, and this bottle keeps that tradition.
For simplicity, we tried it in an old fashioned with rich Demarara syrup and aztec chocolate bitters and then in a Manhattan with Cocchi Vermouth. For the complex test in a Boulevardier and in a Bourbon renewal. All were excellent and enhanced by the bourbons' sweet notes, proof and spice.
Bulliet Bottled in Bond is 100% Blue Pig approved!
J.W. Dant has a mashbill of 78% Corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye. It is non age stated, but being a bottled in bond,jw it is at least 4 years old and comes in at 100 proof. I picked this up for $27
On the nose it opens with a good dose of ethanol before opening up with caramel, light vanilla, orange peel, oak.
On the palate, it hits the front with sweet caramel quickly turning to citrus, tobacco and oak.
The finish is short with oak, baking spice, and black pepper. It is slightly drying.
The swallow is modest, considering its 100 proof with a little heat from the spicy finish.
As a sipper, it is thin but delivers flavors expected in a basic bourbon. It also works well in cocktails as a basic whiskey for the same reason.
Considering all this J.W. Danr is 100% Blue Pig approved!
On the nose it opens with a good dose of ethanol before opening up with caramel, light vanilla, orange peel, oak.
On the palate, it hits the front with sweet caramel quickly turning to citrus, tobacco and oak.
The finish is short with oak, baking spice, and black pepper. It is slightly drying.
The swallow is modest, considering its 100 proof with a little heat from the spicy finish.
As a sipper, it is thin but delivers flavors expected in a basic bourbon. It also works well in cocktails as a basic whiskey for the same reason.
Considering all this J.W. Danr is 100% Blue Pig approved!
Ezra Brooks 99 Straight Rye has a mashbill of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley. It is also "Charcoal mellowed" and is aged for 2 years. It's a shelfer, and I picked it up for $25 dollars.
On the nose, it is caramel, chocolate, and herbacious pepper with hints of citrus.
On the palate , it starts with chocolate caramel.then moves citrus, brown sugar, then moves to mint, eucalyptus, baking spice, and pepper on the finish.
After a number of sips, mint and caramel dominate the palate, making it an easy, approachable, relaxing sipper.
The swallow is mild with a warm rush from the proof accompanied by soothing mint and pepper
In cocktails, it was a winner, too. Its herbacious mint and caramel notes shinned through a Mahattan on the complex side and made a botanical bomb of a Monte Carlo on the simple side. This bar workhorse at a great price is 100% Blue Pig approved!
On the nose, it is caramel, chocolate, and herbacious pepper with hints of citrus.
On the palate , it starts with chocolate caramel.then moves citrus, brown sugar, then moves to mint, eucalyptus, baking spice, and pepper on the finish.
After a number of sips, mint and caramel dominate the palate, making it an easy, approachable, relaxing sipper.
The swallow is mild with a warm rush from the proof accompanied by soothing mint and pepper
In cocktails, it was a winner, too. Its herbacious mint and caramel notes shinned through a Mahattan on the complex side and made a botanical bomb of a Monte Carlo on the simple side. This bar workhorse at a great price is 100% Blue Pig approved!
Penelope Wheated Bourbon
95 Proof
Mash bill: 4Grain 74%Corn 7%Rye 3% Malted barley 16% Wheat
Price around 30 yo 35 dollars
Nose:Caramel, dark fruit, and oak
Main Tasting notes l:Caramel and Oak
Finish: Mid length oak and sweetness
Conclusion Good sipper and good in cocktails.
100%Blue Pig Approved
Cheers and good pouring!
95 Proof
Mash bill: 4Grain 74%Corn 7%Rye 3% Malted barley 16% Wheat
Price around 30 yo 35 dollars
Nose:Caramel, dark fruit, and oak
Main Tasting notes l:Caramel and Oak
Finish: Mid length oak and sweetness
Conclusion Good sipper and good in cocktails.
100%Blue Pig Approved
Cheers and good pouring!
I couldn’t wait to crack this gem from Penelope. I have been hunting Marshmallow Toast for a long time and all I can say is WOW! You need to get this bottle!
Has anyone else tried this?
Has anyone else tried this?
