Who makes it? Four Fathers Distillery

Mashbill: 61% Corn, 34% Wheat, 5% malted barley

Where it’s from: Jacksonville, FL and Sedan, KS

When it Started: in 2017 Tim Daniels

We visit Four Fathers Distillery to take a tour and talk to Tim Daniels owner and distiller.

New Year 2021  is a blend of 5, 9, 10, and 11-year old straight Bourbon Whiskeys distilled in KY, TN, IN, NY, TX, WY, CO crafted and bottled in Kentucky

Nice on the nose, the proof is not showing through at 113.9 and doesn’t singe the nose hairs. Moderate sugary sweet, with a little citrus and nutty on the palate. Kind of a sneaky heat. Goes down smooth and then the heat builds. With a cube it knocks down the heat making it smoother and brings more flavors and we both agree this benefits from the cube.

Off the nose, butterscotch comes through and smells sweeter than 2021. On the palate comes in sweeter and after ice the sweetness continues but we agree on the 2022 is better without ice.

These New Year bottles from Barrell Bourbon will cost you about $100 a piece, but we both agree that they are worth it. Pick one up and let us know what you think!

Who makes it? Currently sourced for Indiana

Mashbill: Bourbon – 78% corn, 12% rye, and 10% barley

Rye – 95% rye, 5% malted barley

Where it’s from: Bottled by Conecuh Ridge Distillery

When it Started: 2002 officially but Clyde May has been distilling since 1946

He was unlike a lot of moonshiners in the area, since his reputation was attached to every bottle he produced it had to be of the utmost quality. He never sold a legal bottle of whiskey but in 2002 his son Kenny wanted to bring his father’s whiskey to the market legally and so the journey began. Now, the grandson of Clyde May, LC is the face of the company and even stopped in and shot a video with us giving first hand accounts and everything that goes into making Clyde May’s Whiskey.

The first bottle we taste is the Single Barrel Straight Bourbon 102 proof. It pleases the nose right out of the glass, a few baking notes and sweetness. On the finish, it lets you know you drank something. A little bit of the heat but still goes down smooth. Definitely something to pick up if you can find it. It’ll cost you about $50.

The second bottle is the Straight Bourbon 110 Special Reserve that won double gold at the San Francisco competition. We did more talking that tasting but it did have different profile that the single barrel but has a much bolder aspect to it and this one easier to find. This will run you about $60.

The last bottle was their Straight Rye Whiskey with mint on the nose, finishes of smooth with Erik saying it is different, different. A good rye to add to your whiskey cabinet. This comes in about $40

A solid showing by Clyde May’s and thoroughly enjoyed each bottle, with Kris’ fav leaning toward the 110 special reserve and Erik going for Straight Rye.

Who makes it? Jack Daniel’s

Mashbill: 80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye

Where it’s from: Lynchburg, Tennessee

When it Started: 2012

We met Luke at a few of our events, being a fellow whiskey enthusiast he offered one of prized bottles for a review. We took him up on it and Luke dropped by with 2 bottles from the Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Series. Jess Motlow the second distiller was chosen plus Kris had a surprise in his #whiskeyventure backpack.

A little background, Jack Daniel passed away in 1991 and left the distillery to his two nephews Lem Motlow and Richard Daniel. Lem bought out Richards interest and was more interested in running the company so he put his brother Jess in charge of the distilling. The brothers made it through World War I, Prohibition(being one of the few that a medical license to distill and sell whiskey, and WWII. Lem died in 1947 and his brother Jess retired soon after. The company then went to Lem’s 4 sons that held onto the company for 9 years and then sold it to Brown-Forman for 20 million dollars!

Popping it open, it was easy on the nose. A little heat for Kris with a little sweetness to it. Erik said it didn’t smell like Jack and actually nosed like a good bourbon. On the finish Kris said that for an 86 proof whiskey he could feel the bite but dissipated quickly. Erik thought it was hotter than expected and thought the same that the flavor went away quickly. Luke was pleasantly surprised and found it refreshing. He liked that fact that the finish went away quick because he was ready for another sip faster.

Adding the ice smoothed it out some and brought the sweet flavors, where Erik got a maple flavor and Luke could taste honey. Kris felt it definitely brought the sweetness and could taste a little more of the char.

All in all it was a decent bottle and for 40 bucks but if you check the net you’ll find it all over the price scale. From 60 dollars on up to 400!

Who makes it? Bardstown Bourbon Co. since 2017

Mashbill: 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley

Where it’s from: Lexington, Kentucky

Distributed by: Western Spirits Beverage Company

When it Started: 2013

There’s a little history there… Calumet started out as baking powder in the 1924 and made a fortune by William Monroe Wright in Lexington Kentucky. His son Warren got into horse racing and built out there estate to train horses. They ended up producing 2 Triple Crown Winners, 8 Kentucky Derby winners and 11 of their horses ended up in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. In 1947 they earned over a Million dollars from winning performances and stakes wins.

Western Spirits Beverage Company has the Calumet Farm Bourbon under it’s belt as well as Sam Houston, Bird Dog, and Lexington Bourbon Whiskey.

Starting with Calumet 8 at 90 proof, Kris on the nose could smell the heat, slightly sweet while Erik found the same and Dan said it tickled his nose hairs! Kris was surprised on the lingering finish, easy and smooth. Erik could taste the heat but it was good while Dan thought is was smooth and easy drinking. After adding ice, Kris got notes of cherry and definitely brought out the flavors and sweetened it up. Erik picked up the sweet, dark cherries and caramel. Dan said it dampened the fire and he may be odd because he doesn’t taste fruit in whiskies, only in cognac.

Calumet 14 was next and Kris already sampled this before but on the nose brought more spice and more heat. Coming in at 96.2 proof. For Erik, he could smell rubber cement and ethanol. The taste Kris said the spice really came through while Erik said it hit pretty hard. Dan could feel the heat as well. After adding ice it mellowed out and Dan said it took some flavor away but left all the spice.

Calumet 15yr was next clocking in at 105 proof and Kris did not expect that it would be much different than the 14 but he was wrong. On the nose more force notes pushed through and Kris could tell the difference and more spice and a long long finish. Erik could smell rubber cement again, on the finish he said “this is not my jam” and “it won’t go away” the funk won’t go away. Dan could tell of the nose it was entirely different and the taste the spice hangs on and doesn’t go away. Dan said, “you definitely know you drank somethin!” and good flavor but the spice takes over. Dan didn’t taste the funk but he and Erik were not fans while Kris liked it better than 14 and likened it almost to Wild Turkey Rare Breed.

Sam Houston 15 at 103 proof, lower than Calumet 15 but obviously not discernable. Kris could smell heat and sugar, Erik said it was similar to the rest but much steeper and Dan said it was a real eye opener. On the taste Kris could taste sweet, spicy and a woody aspect. Erik for the taste got candied pecans and Dan could taste a lot of things but it was hard to identify any of it but really like the flavor and the spices

Kris ranking: Erik ranking: Dan ranking: 8yr -6.5 -7 -6.5 14yr – 7 – 6 – 5 15yr – 7.5 -0 – 4 Sam Houston – 8 -7.5 -8

To wrap it all up, we all would pick up the Calumet 8yr. Nice easy sipping with no ice needed but one cube will bring out more flavors. The 14 Erik and Dan would pass up and Kris would pick it up unless the 15 was available. For the 15 only Kris would pick this on up and Sam Houston we all would pick up but this not easy to find so if you see it grab it! Unless they’re charging secondary prices, then that’s on you. In pricing the Calumet 8 will run you about $45 dollars, the Calumet 14 goes for around $99 and Calumet 15 about $110. The Sam Houston Kris picked up for $150 but we asked Google and they have it going for $299. Happy Hunting! Cheers!

Who makes it? St. Augustine Distillery Tour

A short #whiskeyventure to south landed us in St. Augustine Florida, the oldest city in the US and one of the first to bourbon distilleries to open in the Sunshine state. We meet up with Will Hensler the Chief Operating Officer to tour the distillery which is housed in an over hundred year old building that was once an icehouse and powerplant. Will gives us a little history and then we visit where the magic happens. Watch the vid to find out more about their process and how much works goes into Craft Distillation. Next is barreling, their barrels come from one of the oldest family owned cooperages and we get to see how much of that whiskey gets soaked into the staves. From start to finish it’s all done right there in St. Augustine. From milling the grains, distillation, barreling, storing and bottling! See how it all comes together and stay tuned for the review where bottles are lined up and we drag Will and Ric into the tasting room. Plus a new release!