Bourbon Departed

Episode 9: Willett Pot Still Reserve

Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon Whiskey is a renowned beverage hailing from the Willett Distillery, also known as Kentucky Bourbon Distillers - a private, family-owned and operated business located in Bardstown, Kentucky that has a rich history stretching back to the American Civil War.

The pot still reserve expression is famous for its distinctive bottled shape that emulates the copper pot still used in the distillation process. This bourbon showcases Willett's mastery of crafting unique, premium quality whiskey celebrated by both connoisseurs and collectors worldwide.

The whiskey itself is single-barrel bourbon, meaning each bottle comes from an individual aging barrel rather than a blend of multiple barrels. This usually provides a uniqueness to each batch, with subtle variations in taste and exuberance from one barrel to the next.

On the palate, Willett Pot Still Reserve is incredibly smooth and balanced. You can expect classic bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla along with delightful accents of honey and spices, with a hint of toasted oak derived from the new charred oak barrels used for aging. These characterize a full-bodied, flavourful experience that is hugely satisfying to whiskey enthusiasts.

Winner of a Silver Medal at the 2018 International Wine & Spirit Competition, the Willett Pot Still Reserve is indeed a bourbon whiskey of noteworthy status, loved for its charming bottle design and its equally appealing contents.

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Episode 8: Stellum Spirits Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Stellum Spirits is a whiskey brand launched by Barrell Craft Spirits, which is well-known for its high-quality, cask-strength American whiskeys. As a modern and innovative brand, Stellum Spirits aims to creatively push the boundaries of American whiskey traditions while maintaining an appreciation for the classic foundations of the craft.

Stellum Bourbon, a particular highlight of the portfolio, is a blend of straight bourbon whiskies. Known for its rich character and nuanced profile, it is the result of thorough and meticulous blending of sourced bourbon from several distilleries based in Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee.

Despite its high proof, it's highly regarded for its smooth and balanced profile, often described as having notes of caramel, toasted oak, and various fruits. Thanks to the meticulous process of blending batch and single barrel whiskies, each sip of Stellum Bourbon is designed to offer a harmonious combination of age, purity, and proof.

The name 'Stellum' comes from the Latin word 'stella', meaning star, and the brand positions itself as an exploration into the country's best distilleries in terms of quality and elegance. Its modern aesthetic combined with superb blend quality sets Stellum Bourbon as a star player in the American whiskey scene, appealing to both veterans of whiskey tasting and newcomers to the spirit.

Details below came from:

https://www.stellum.com/bourbon

Appearance: Amber gold.

Nose: Intense clove and allspice immediately jump out of the glass, supported by creamy macadamia nuts and light tobacco. As the whiskey opens up, sweet aromas of honeysuckle, green apple, and nectarine begin to show, rounded off by toasted rye and oak.

Palate: The tip of your tongue is met with a hint of vanilla, marshmallow, and cotton candy. The whiskey quickly transforms as it spreads across your tongue, revealing spicy notes of black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon baked apples. The spice is supported by tart underripe blackberry and apricot that contrasts perfectly against the initial sweetness.

Finish: The spiciness of the palate carries over into the finish with candied ginger and more black pepper before slowly fading into a syrupy sweet honey.

With the Addition of Water: The strong pepper notes are more subdued, allowing for sweet cinnamon streusel and stewed apples to come to the forefront of the palate.

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Seth Dettling is the founder and head distiller of Big Escambia Spirits. Listen to our second sit-down with Seth as we discuss barrel picks, progress, and firetrucks at the pickers porch over pours of their unreleased rye whiskey.

Dettling home page: https://dettling1867.com

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Episode 7: McFarlane's Reserve 12Yr Barrel Finished Bourbon

Details below came from:

https://www.totalwine.com

**Search: "McFarlane's Reserve 12 Yr Straight Bourbon"

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ijw-whiskey-company

https://ijwwhiskey.com

Company/Distillery: I.J.W. Whiskey Company, LLC

Aged: 12+ years

Finished: 9-12 months in cabernet sauvignon barrels from California's central coast

Tasting Notes:

Rich, Vanilla, Dried Fruit, Sherry, Complex

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Episode 6: Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond & 1783 Small Batch Bourbon

Details below came from:

https://evanwilliams.com

https://heavenhilldistillery.com

Bottled-In-Bond

100 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that is aged four years under U.S. Government Supervision to meet the standards for Bottled-in-Bond. First enacted by Congress in 1897, Bottled-in-Bond guarantees quality and assures consumers the product is bottled at exactly 100 proof, from one distilling season at one distillery, aged at least four years, and clearly labeled with name of the distillery who made it and Distilled Spirits Plant (D.S.P.) number in which it was made and bottled.

Proof: 100 Proof

Age: 4 Years Old

Tasting Notes

Color: Bright gold

Aroma: Caramel with hints of vanilla, oak, and barley

Taste: Citrus on top of vanilla, and black pepper

Finish: Warm, long, dry

1783 Small Batch

This bourbon honors the year that Evan Williams founded Kentucky’s First Distillery. It's pulled from less than 200 barrels. Extra-aged and uses the same sour mash process and traditional recipe made popular by the Evan Williams namesake.

Proof: 90 Proof

Age: 6-8 Years Old

Tasting Notes

Color: Brilliant honey

Aroma: Oaky vanilla, sautéed butter, and sweet corn

Taste: Semi-sweet, oaky, and honeyed

Finish: Lean, off-dry, and regal

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Episode 5: Mersey Craft Spirits Straight Rye Whiskey

Details below came from: https://www.merseyspirits.com

Mersey Rye - Recipe No.6

A grain to glass, straight, double rye whiskey

Proofed perfectly to 91

Mash Bills

95 / 5, Rye, Barley (2/3rd)

51 / 39 / 10, Rye, Corn, Barley (1/3rd)

Aging

95/5 Rye aged 4 years

51/39/10 Rye aged 3 years

Production

Grains harvested, mashed, fermented, distilled and aged in North Carolina

Blended, proofed, and bottled in Birmingham, AL

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Episode 4: Dettling Small Batch & Bottled-In-Bond Bourbons

Details below came from: https://dettling1867.com

SMALL BATCH, STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY:

The first and only Straight Bourbon Whiskey made in Alabama. Aged at least 2 years in new American Oak #3 char barrels, which produces an approachable mature whiskey. This whiskey is intended to be for everyone, every day. Smooth and delicious, it is easy to enjoy neat or with your favorite bourbon cocktail.

BOTTLED-IN-BOND, STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY: 

The 2019 release was the first spirit ever made in Alabama history that meets the strictest standards set forth in the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. Our founders favorite spirit category, the act requires a single distiller, barreled in a single season, minimum four years in new American Oak charred barrels, and bottled at a required proof of 100. 

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Seth Dettling is the founder and head distiller of Big Escambia Spirits.  Closing in on a decade of doing business, his ingredient and production  standards have not wavered as field to bottle remains status quo.  Listen to this raw interview with Seth as we discuss bourbon at the original rickhouse over pours of a spirit that's a sibling to his 2022 Bottled-In-Bond release.  

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Episode 3: Sagamore Spirit Rye American Whiskey

Details below came from: https://sagamorespirit.com

Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey is a blend of two straight rye mash bills, aged 4 to 6 years in high-char American oak barrels. The first is a high-rye, which adds notes of cinnamon and clove, and the second, a low-rye, contributes notes of caramel, honey, and citrus peel. The final spirit is proofed with limestone-filtered water from our spring house built in 1909 and represents our team’s thoughtful approach to crafting a classic Maryland-style rye whiskey.

TASTING NOTES

Palate: Traditional Maryland-Style Rye Whiskey. Candied dried orange peel

with notes of clove and nutmeg. Lingering hints of walnut and brown

sugar to finish.

Proof: 83 (41.5% ABV)

Age: 4 - 6 Years 

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Episode 2: Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon

Details below came from: https://www.longbranchbourbon.com

TASTE

A sweet bouquet upfront with subtle

notes of nutmeg and toffee. Spice and

a hint of oak provide a sturdy middle,

before giving way to a smooth

Kentucky Straight Bourbon finish.

AROMA

Caramel, vanilla, toffee with hints of

oak.

FINISH

A smooth finish with a pop of heat.

Caramel trails off into a subtle smoky

goodbye.

PROCESS

An 86 proof small-batch Kentucky

Straight Bourbon aged 8 years and

refined with American oak and

mesquite charcoals.  

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