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Little Book No. 5

Kris’s cousin Jason comes down to visit from Atlanta carrying something special to review. He brings Little Book No.5 “The Invitation”, his first foray into the more expensive whiskies. We pop it open, find out how Little Book got it’s name and that Freddie Noe is an 8th generation distiller! This a once a year bottling of blended whiskies that Freddie Noe personally picks out and has done so for the past 6 years. The nose on this one will definitely keep you on your toes with so much going on and it’s interesting that one out of the four components is a 100% malted rye and how much it really shows through. We have a debate over Atlanta vs. Buffalo snow and how when we all hear that glug glug sound and what we hope it means someone is pouring whiskey. Then we get down to business of nosing and tasting. Erik says she’s a thick lady while Jason enjoyed the heat and Kris thought it would pair well with a nice Maduro cigar. See what we rated it and if it gets the Whiskey and a Hammock stamp of approval!

The Fighting 69th Regiment Irish Whiskey

Not since we started have we done a review on Irish whiskey. We thought nie is the time to pick one up and give it a go. We selected the Fighting 69th Regiment Irish Whiskey. Named after the 69th regiment in Brooklyn, NY. Colonel James Tierney wanted to created whiskey for his regiment for years and finally Scott Reid from the Espiritus group dropped by and brought in Chris Leskowicz the master blender to make it a reality. Not your ordinary Irish whiskey, it is finished in a myriad of different ways, watch the review and see what we thought. Plus, we have some new unique whiskey glasses to check out from Well Designed Wood.

The Fighting 69th Irish Whiskey

Not since we started have we done a review on Irish whiskey. We thought nie is the time to pick one up and give it a go. We selected the Fighting 69th Regiment Irish Whiskey. Named after the 69th regiment in Brooklyn, NY. Colonel James Tierney wanted to created whiskey for his regiment for years and finally Scott Reid from the Espiritus group dropped by and brought in Chris Leskowicz the master blender to make it a reality. Not your ordinary Irish whiskey, it is finished in a myriad of different ways, watch the review and see what we thought. Plus, we have some new unique whiskey glasses to check out from Well Designed Wood.

Gunnar’s Bourbon with Tim Daniels

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!

Gunnar’s Bourbon with Tim Daniels

We have 3 brand new bottles from @ClydeMaysWhiskey to review and what better way to review it than with Clyde’s grandson LC May! Hear first hand stories of the hard working man from rural Alabama that served in WWII. After the war, started making high quality moonshine to supplement his income to take care of his wife and eight kids. The kind of man we need more of these days, hard working, take nothing for granted and put 100% in everything you do. LC brings a single barrel for us to sample along with their Straight Bourbon 110 Special Reserve and then finish it off with their newly released Straight Rye. Find out about the family tradition that LC is trying to avoid, why he would fight tooth and nail for their Rye, their new distillery that might be Right here in Jacksonville Florida we visited Four Fathers Distillery and met with owner/distiller Tim Daniels. There is a lot that goes on behind those doors, there is a laboratory where all sorts of experiments are enacted to find the answer on how to make the best bourbon. Being a chemist Tim is right at home in this space, he worked for Bacardi for 25 years and has a passion for spirits. We got to see the rest of the operation, still and bottling, but in Sedan Kansas is where Gunnar’s Bourbon is going to be made. In a turn of the century building, new stills are going in and Kansas is the biggest wheat producer in the United States so it only makes sense to have your wheated bourbon made there. Then it was time for our favorite part, the tasting. We sat at the distillery bar, set up the cameras and let Tim do the pouring. Both of his sons are in the business and Mat joined us for the sampling experience. Tim tells us more about his process and what goes into Gunnar’s Wheated Bourbon consisting of 34% soft and hard winter wheat for that’s smooth on the palate. Then we dive into the Oxbox coming in at 120 proof and at 95% corn. Mat tells us that him and his brother Tim will be running things up in Kansas. Like Tim says, what other job can you have liquor bottles on your desk. Check out what we thought, see the distillery and learn more about Gunnar’s Bourbon.

Barrell Bourbon 2021 vs 2022 Flash Review

Who makes it? Barrell Bourbon

Mashbill: ???

Where it’s from: Barrels from all over the country

When it Started: in 2012 by Joe and Jan Beatrice, first bottle hit shelves in 2014

It is a sourced and blended bourbon that every autumn they create a very special blend of bourbons to toast the year to come. Kris and his cousin Jason each have a bottle. Jason picked up 2021 and Kris was out and about and seen New Year 2022 and decided to pick that up and proposed a head to head challenge.

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!

Clyde May’s Single Barrel, Special Reserve 110 and Rye with LC May

We have 3 brand new bottles from @ClydeMaysWhiskey to review and what better way to review it than with Clyde’s grandson LC May! Hear first hand stories of the hard working man from rural Alabama that served in WWII. After the war, started making high quality moonshine to supplement his income to take care of his wife and eight kids. The kind of man we need more of these days, hard working, take nothing for granted and put 100% in everything you do. LC brings a single barrel for us to sample along with their Straight Bourbon 110 Special Reserve and then finish it off with their newly released Straight Rye. Find out about the family tradition that LC is trying to avoid, why he would fight tooth and nail for their Rye, their new distillery that might be open July of next year in Troy, Alabama and most of all find out why Clyde May gave a damn!

Clyde May’s Single Barrel, Special Reserve, Rye with LC May!

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.

New England Barrel with Jax Bourbon Social and Warriors and Whiskey

Who makes it? Green River Distilling

Mashbill: 75% corn, 4% barley, and 21% rye

Where it’s from: Dover, New Hampshire

When it Started: 2020

Mark Saunders turned a hobby into whiskey company. Previously and Enterprise IT salesman covering clients in Kentucky. Avid member of the local bourbon community, selected barrel for groups and liquor stores. Then he bought barrels that were the birth year of his 4 children.

We get to hang with good friends Jax Bourbon Social, Warriors and Whiskey, and Tuesday’s Creations. Andy from Jax Bourbon Social brings the New England bottles including the event pick.

For the single barrel you get honey, vanilla, backing spice and straw. With the addition of ice brings out the sweetness and leather notes. We all agree this one is better with a cube.

The pick is a 7yr, 114 proof pick just for the JBS and it was awesome! On the nose, black licorice, and heat. For the taste it is full body, smooth, green apple, red apple and cinnamon.

The single barrel can be picked up for around $54 while the pick, which is only available from JBS, will run you about $100 and they only have a few bottles left!

New England Barrel Review

A #whiskeykrew review with good friends Jax Bourbon Social and Warriors and Whiskey hosted at Tuesday’s Creations poolside bar. Jax Bourbon Social breaks out the single barrel and then the barrel pick from their event this summer of New England Barrel Company. You’re getting a review from 8 people all at once! Like Andy says, “this is what bourbon is all about, bringing people together”. See what we think, find out more about these two amazing groups and what they do. Such a good time, let us know what you think. Follow all three of these awesome groups.