Bookers Bourbon

Country: United States
Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co. Clermont,KY
Bottler: James B. Beam Distilling Co. Clermont,KY
Distillation Date: Unknown
Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottling Date: Unknown
Alcohol: 121 to 129 proof
Price: ~ $50.00 USD / 750ml

Behind The Booze:

I never thought that I would end up being a guy who drank Bourbon – there isn’t anything against it but being a rum or beer guy most of my life, Bourbon always seemed to be that bottle collecting dust rather than something I would reach for first. After talking to a few people on twitter about different or unique whiskeys out there, someone mentioned that Bookers Bourbon was one of their personal favorites. This uncut, unfiltered, straight from the barrel bourbon is a natural proof bourbon ranging from 121 to 128 and has usually been resting for six to eight years. Now most of the time I don’t drop $50 bucks on something that some random on twitter had mentioned – but with this I figured, what the hell. Am I happy or disappointed with that decision?

The story goes that Booker Noe – Jim Beam’s grandson and master distiller – personally hand selects each barrel that will be used in the production of Bookers Bourbon. They place these barrels in the very center of the rackhouse – the one location where the temperature and humidity combines in the best possible proportions to help with creating some of the ‘best bourbon available.’ 1988 is when Booker Noe introduced his own signature bourbon – the Bookers True Barrel Bourbon which was inspired by a 200-year-old tradition – straight from the barrel, uncut and unfiltered. The reason for this creation was not to hit the shelves and generate profit, but rather as a holiday gift for his special friends. Lets see if the marketing hype and twitter recommendations give way to a great Bourbon or if its all just a great story.

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Garnheath 40 Year Old 1969 – The Clan Denny

Country: Scotch Whisky, Lowland
Distillery: Garnheath
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Distillation Date: 1969
Style: Grain Whisky
Bottling Date: Unknown
Alcohol: 47.90%
Price: ~ $175.00 USD for 750ml

Behind The Booze:

I love it when a random or ‘unique’ item gets onto your radar. The Garnheath distillery is one of those names that is either returned with a deer in headlights look or the start of a conversation about them operating within the Moffat complex in the Lowlands during the mid 1960′s ( 1965 is when they started distilling ) producing a whopping 15,000,000 proof gallons annually or the story about how and why they were demolished by Inver House Distillers Limited in July of 1986. This 40 year old whisky was aged in cask HH 5538 which was a refill hodhead – then bottled aged 40 years by Douglas Laing for their Clan Denny label. I could bore you with all the details but I highly advise taking some time an doing a little digging – the history of this whisky is just about as good as it gets.

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Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey

Country: United States
Distillery: Breckenridge Distillery
Bottler: Breckenridge Distillery
Distillation Date: Unknown
Style: Bourbon Whiskey
Bottling Date: 2008
Alcohol: 86 (43% ABV)
Price: About $40.00 usd ( 750ml )

Behind The Booze:

As some of you know, my wife and I recently went to Breckenrdige, Colorado for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Aside from falling in love with the town and the surrounding areas and never wanting to leave ( wife and I both want to move there asap ) – I also happened to walk past the Breckenridge Distillery storefront in downtown Breckenridge and found out about their hand crafted spirit which is born at 9600 feet, from Rocky Mountain snowmelt none the less. I was impressed to learn that their unique, high-rye mash is mixed with the natural mineral rich water into a traditional open-top Scottish style fermenter and distilled in a 700 gallon Vendome copper combination pot still. If that isn’t enough to catch your attention, this spirit is aged in 100% new American White Oak barrels for 2-3 years and has recently been awarded the 2011 International Wine and Spirits Competition in the United Kingdom and was named one of the top three Bourbon’s in the world. If you would like to learn more about the worlds highest distillery, please check out http://www.breckenridgedistillery.com/ for more info. Enough with me rambling, onto the damn review!

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Greenore 8 Year Old

Country: Irish Whiskey
Distillery: Cooley
Bottler: Cooley
Distillation Date: 2003
Style: Grain Whiskey
Bottling Date: Unknown
Alcohol: 40% by volume
Price: Just under $60 USD a bottle

Behind The Booze:

This just happens to be another spirit that has been talked about by many, loved by some yet the history and background remains a ‘mystery’ to a certain extent. Yes – this is the Greenore your thinking of – the Gold Medal winner at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. The Cooley distillery is also known for their Kilbeggan, Tryconnel and Connemara Irish whiskey so if you are a fan of those lines, be sure to give the Greenore a look as well. Personally, I had never heard of the Cooley distillery or any of their spirits prior to this review – bias out the window eeh!?

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Bunnahabhain 14 Year Old 1995

Country: Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Ian Macleod
Distillation Date: 1995
Style: Single Malt Whisky
Bottling Date: 2009
Alcohol: 46% by volume
Price: ~ $75.00 USD

Behind The Booze:

Although this was a very special whisky when it was released, being bottled in Medoc barrels ( casks 90281 and 90282 ) in 2009 as a part of a 516 bottle release, the Brunnahabhain 14 year really did not get much publicity. No, this isn’t your $250.00 dollar bottle but many agree that this is a great, well priced spirit that truly delivers. I will update this post as I hear more, but for now lets get onto the review!

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Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon 12 Year Old

Country: American Whiskey
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Bottler: Heaven Hill
Distillation Date: 1999
Style: Bourbon Whiskey
Bottling Date: Unknown
Alcohol: 47% by volume
Price: ~ $40.00 usd

Behind The Booze:

Although the name has somewhat disappeared into history, Elijah Craig was actually the name of a reverend who lived in Virgina in the Late 1700′s. For those who are into the history of whisky making this may be a refresher, but, his tragedy has forever changed the way whisky is made today. Short sweet and to the point, the story goes that at one time he owned a warehouse where he stored barrels when one day, the warehouse was consumed by a devastating fire – even though the barrels were charred he still used the casks, which imparted a lovely visual and flavor character never before experienced. This 12 year old batch specifically took his name, Elijah Craig – and another fantastic spirit was added to the Heaven Hill line.

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