Today, and again from Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Access Live 2024, I will be reviewing bourbons, a Tequila and an Amaro. Last to come will be my article on a very classy brand of ready-to-drink craft cocktails.
From Bardstown, Kentucky, and the coolest looking barrel-colored and shaped bottles I’ve ever seen, we have two to review from Hand Barrel Bourbon. This review was done with Ashley (@SipWithMe_LV on Instagram) and Jason Norris, my husband and me:
Hand Barrel Bourbon, Single Barrel Select, cask strength, approximately $90: According to the bottle tag, “Our founders have carefully selected individual barrels from our rickhouses to show case the best of our 64% corn, 24% rye, 12% matured barley sweet mash…” On the nose were notes of brown sugar, stone fruit, white and pink peppercorn. The flavor reminded me of caramel corn, vanilla, pepper and the Norrises added fruit leather.
Hand Barrel Bourbon, Double Oak, approximately $80: Abbreviated from the barrel tag, “A twice-baked barreled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled with a sweet mash. Our Double Oak is aged to maturity and then finished in a second new American white oak cask…” Caramel apple, butterscotch hard candy, burnt sugar, torched Crème Brûlée and marshmallow all on the nose, followed by flavors of caramel, toasted corn and grilled pineapple. Very smooth.
@HandBarrelBourbon on Instagram. https://www.handbarrel.com/
Doc Holliday 8 YO Cask Strength Bourbon: Has a label that looks like an old newspaper or a wanted sign, complete with a cameo photo of Doc Holliday, a metal head of a longhorn cow and words describing its namesake as an “American Gambler, Gunfighter and Dentist.” With a dark golden honey color and then aromas of buttered yellow corn, toasted oak, vanilla, cinnamon and peppermint stick, I couldn’t wait to taste! The bourbon had notes of toast and char – a lot of it – as well as caramel and spice. We enjoyed it with a vanilla Crème Brûlée. We lingered over this one later with a little ice, the water lessened the spice, so I could go either way, straight or on the rock.
Doc Holliday bourbons received several Double Golds from WSWA: World Whiskey Society Classic Collection Wheated Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 10 Years Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks, USA ($120). Doc Holliday Single Barrel Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 6 Years, USA ($100). Doc Holliday Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 10 Years, USA ($184). @AikoBrands #DocHollidayBourbon
Andale Tequila, handmade, Anejo: This is another review that was done with Ashley (@SipWithMe_LV on Instagram) and Jason Norris, my husband and me: Got hit by a blast of mint first thing on the nose, some lime and other citrus. followed by herbaceous notes of basil and sage. While on the palate I found it whisky-like, with a mouth-coating viscosity, vanilla, creamy, resiny and an extra-long finish.
@DrinkAndale on Instagram and Apogee 21 Holdings on Facebook. https://www.apogee21holdings.com/
Vecchio Amaro del Capo: According to their website and Instagram (link below) this Amaro Italian liqueur should be kept in the freezer and served cold in an iced shot glass. “Vecchio Amaro del Capo should always be served chilled. At a temperature of -20 ° C, the mint, aniseed and liquorice emerge in all their strength, while the herbs create a fresh and seductive sensory carpet.” So, ahead of tasting I slipped the bottle into my freezer. Notes on this one included black licorice, wet tree bark, dried dark cherry, anise, espresso and chocolate mint all on the nose. Then, tasting the icy cold drink I noticed a silky mouth-coating flavor of that same black licorice, coffee grounds, salted caramel, dark chocolate bark, toasty, spicy and peppery. This might have to be the way I serve Amaro from now on!
https://www.instagram.com/vecchioamarodelcapo
https://www.vecchioamarodelcapo.com/en/
Many of the WSWA bottles were also award winners, see the full report here: https://accesslive.wswa.org/wine-spirits-tasting-competitions
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
