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Review #0008 Chattanooga Whiskey, Part 1
We get to sit down with Chris Helmly from Chattanooga Whiskey and he tells us all about the whiskey, history, and the distilling process. We had such a good time and have so much great footage we decided to break it up into 3 parts. Part 1, Chattanooga 91. Part 2 Chattanooga 111 and Part 3 some history of Chattanooga Whiskey and what they are working on now and in the future.
Check out Chattanooga Whiskey at: https://chattanoogawhiskey.com/ follow them on Instagram too!
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Review #0007 PROHIBITION Gooderham and Worts Whiskey
We get to sample and review a 94 year old bottle of whiskey! Our good friend, diver extraordinaire, George McDaniel pulled it out of the Niagara River in the mid eighties and decided to share it with us. It was amazing sampling this bottle of 1925 Gooderham & Worts Whiskey. Truly a once in a lifetime experience.
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Whiskey Acres Rye Review
Who makes it? Whiskey Acres Distilling Company, Seed to Spirit from DeKalb, Illinois
At the first taste straight from the bottle, Kris thought form the first was less sweet than the bourbon with a little more spice, Erik thought it had a clean bite. Dan said he preferred the tingly tongue taste of the bourbon better. Adding the ice made it ridiculously smooth according to Erik and Kris thought it smoothed it out. On a full melt Erik thought it was too watered down and Kris agreed.
Kris gave it a 6.5 and Erik gave it a 6.8
How much: It’ll cost you about $42.99 a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: the mash bill is 75% rye, 25% corn – 87 proof aged in 15 gallon barrels with a #3 char.
A little history. Jim and Jamie Walter plus Nick Nagele who are multi generational farmers who decided to make whiskey, so they did. With 16 different varieties of whiskey corn like Oaxacan green corn, yellow dent, Glass Gem and Bloody Butcher less than 10% of what they grow actually make it into their whiskey. Since they grow all their own grains and take advantage of the limestone aquifer deep under the soil they control from start to finish or what they call Seed to Glass.
Currently it can only be found in Illinois, so if you’re close by or passing through it is definitely worth the stop.
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Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon Review
Who makes it? Whiskey Acres Distilling Company, Seed to Spirit from DeKalb, Illinois
At the first taste straight from the bottle, Kris thought form the first sip it went down smooth with a strong finish, Erik thought the same. Dan said “there is no bark on this one at all”. Adding the ice tamed the finish and brought out more of the sweet corn flavor. On a full melt Erik gave it a well done and it is frickin’ good and I’d have to agree.
Kris and Erik decided to lengthen the scales and make it 1 to 10 instead of 1 to 5.
Kris gave it a 7 and Erik gave it a 7.3
How much: It’ll cost you about $44.99 a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: the mash bill is 75% corn, 15% winter wheat, 10% barley – 87 proof aged in 15 gallon barrels with a #3 char.
A little history. Jim(father), Jamie(son) Walter and Nick Nagele are multi generational farmers. Jamie said “Bourbon has to be made out of a minimum of 51% corn; we grow corn here better than almost anywhere else in the world.” So they decided to make bourbon. In order to get started they watched videos, went to classes and then hired none other than Dave Pickerell master distiller to help them learn the process. Unlike most distilleries trying to get on the market they didn’t source whiskey to start instead they started selling unaged corn whiskey and a corn vodka.
Currently it can only be found in Illinois, so if you’re close by or passing through it is definitely worth the stop.
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Redemption Bourbon Review
Who makes it? Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits
At the first taste straight from the bottle to our glasses, Kris thought it was smoother than expected without a harsh finish with a hint of sweet and caramel while Erik was expecting a smoky taste at the first pull but instead tasted oily and vanilla. After the addition of ice Erik liked it better without while Kris didn’t mind and tasted flowers of yore(just kidding) actually sweetened a bit and had a fruity taste. Erik thought the same and said possible apricot or citrus. After a full melt not a whole lot different for Kris and Erik could still taste the oiliness.
Kris and Erik decided to lengthen the scales and make it 1 to 10 instead of 1 to 5.
Kris gave it a 7 and Erik gave it a 6.5
How much: It’ll cost you about 27.99$ a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: the mash bill is 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% barley. MGP(midwest grain products) produced whiskey from Indiana then trucked over to Bardstown, Kentucky for blending and aging.
A little history. Dave Schmier and Michael Kanbar started the company together in 2010. They have a small bottling facility where batch size is usually 10 barrels. The Redemption name was chosen to reflect the idea of Rye re-claiming its status – prior to prohibition when it was the #1 selling type of whiskey. They describe it as a true reflection of America’s native spirit. In 2015 they were acquired by the Deutsch Family.
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Whiskey Barrel Shortage
A surge in the demand for bourbon has led to a shortage in whiskey barrels. Exports of bourbon were in excess of 1 billion, that’s right with a “B” billion in 2014. Bourbon production has increased more than 50% from 2010 to 2013. In three years the craft-distilling companies have doubled to about 600 distillers.
The housing market crash of 2007 led to a number of lumber mills closing, they rebounded in 2014 but the supply of white oak has not caught up with the demand for barrel makers (Coopers). High timber prices, the lack of loggers have added to the problem. There is no quick fix for the bourbon industry’s supply problem. Since the bourbon has to be aged, the available supply is whatever was put in oak barrels 10 years ago when demand was lower. Distillers want to put more into barrels now but the barrels remain hard to get.
At a craft spirit conference where there was a presentation on staves(the wooden strips that make up the side of the barrels) and bungs(the plug for the bung hole) and the room was overflowing. Not for the lecture but the hopes of where to find barrels. The shortage is currently getting better and with the current tariffs could help close that gap.
Jefferson’s Bourbon Review
Who makes it? Castle Brands
Kris and Erik found that straight for the bottle it had a sweet spicy smell. On the first pull Kris thought it had a nice flavor that wasn’t overpowering without a harsh finish. Erik took in a sweet smell and raisnins. That might of been the mixture of vanilla, butterscothch notes we were supposed to smell. Adding a couple of ice cubes Kris thought it mellowed it out nicely for a relaxing sipping and before you know it it’s gone. In the end Kris really enjoyed Jefferson’s Bourbon and gave it high marks and put it as high as 4 out of 5 while Erik gave it a solid 3.5.
How much: It’ll cost you about 29.99$ a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: Actually four different Kentucky straight bourbon whiskies of different ages and combining them together for a blended bourbon at 80 proof.
A little history. It was started by Trey Zoeller(a native Kentuckian) and his father Chet who is a bourbon historian. How they got the name, they simply had no marketing budget and wanted a memorable name so they picked Jefferson’s and put his image on the bottle. My favorite tidbit is that an 8th generation grandmother was arrested in 1799 for moonshining.
