THE BOURBON RESOURCE: AUGUST 2022
A new Facebook page, Birthday Bourbon raffle, 1792 small batch rarity
BIG NEWS
The Bourbon Resource now has a Facebook page! No need to wait to see bourbon information once a month. I try to post content daily, and there’s plenty of it. Distilleries are sending information on their latest releases, tours, and more. In addition, I’m adding the occasional food and cocktail recipe, so it’s more than “here’s the newest releases.” Please like the page, if you see yourself clear to do so. I’m going to take a few months to try to grow the newsletter and Facebook page organically before I buy a few ads.
BIG NEWS PART II
You know it’s a big month when three pieces of Big News exist.
1792 Small Batch Bourbon, one of the top 5 mid-priced pours on the market, has all of a sudden gone to Allocation Land, at least in Ohio.
That’s right, Allocation Land, the home where hard-to-get bourbons live. I was stunned when I went into a local (Ohio) store and asked whether they had any 1792 small batch left. The answer --- no. Not only that, when the store receives any, it goes to the most dreaded place in the store --- on the shelf behind the cash register, where customers can only buy one bottle.
In other words, Allocation Land. Fortunately, I found three bottles online and purchased them for the still reasonable $28.99 a bottle, though I expect that will climb.
BIG NEWS PART III
Old Forester has quietly announced its much sought Birthday Bourbon will only be available by nationwide raffle. You’ll need to enter the raffle between August 24 and 31, and Old Forester makes clear there won’t be any bottles available at the distillery.
In 2021, OF produced 119 barrels of Birthday Bourbon, though we don’t know what that means in terms of bottles. At 104 proof and aged 12 years they might get 180 bottles a barrel but that’s my guess, so take that for what it’s worth. Even if that 21,000-plus bottle allocation is off a few thousand either way, it still means it’ll be hard to get at the $149.99 retail. It also means a continued $1,000-plus secondary price.
NOW TO THE OTHER NEWS THAT’S DAMN GOOD, TOO
You can now find Bourbon Resource reviews on BourbonObsessed.com. Here’s the Alias Review I posted here last month.
Old Pogue is accepting its case claim for its newest release. Sold only in cases of six.
This really stinks. We all know how hard it is to get a bottle of allocated bourbon, and it turns out that in Pennsylvania, members of the Liquor Control Board got a heads up. When the auction ends, any leftover bottles are supposed to go back into a pool, so the public has a chance to pick up a bottle. Instead, some board members received an opportunity to buy the extra bottles themselves. Look, if you want to reward people with the opportunity to buy a bottle, I’m all for it. Just be transparent about it (by the way, an independent investigator found no ethics violations).
This seems like a worthy trip for people who live near Covington, KY. The Hotel Covington has announced an expansion with Revival, a full-service bar with vintage spirits and cocktails, tasting flights, and a library with what it says is over 4,000 bottles! At a minimum, it’s worth a trip to check it out
Spirit of Gallo, the #4 spirits supplier in the USA has invested in Horse Soldier Bourbon and will begin increasing distribution of the brand in the United States. That’s good news for Horse Soldier fans.
I don’t drink cocktails, but this might be of interest to people who need an easy-to-carry cocktail. Bulleit has released two premium, pre-mixed cocktails --- a rye Manhattan and an Old Fashion.
I’d like to get a bottle of this. Brother’s Bond Bourbon has released a cask strength bourbon ($79.99). You can only get it through Reserve Bar, though
WHISKEY REVIEWS
We have two this month, all courtesy of Lux Row: Daviess County Sour Mash and the Daviess County Straight Bourbon finished in cabernet sauvignon barrels. I’ve been curious to try these bourbons --- I’ve seen them around --- but I’ve avoided bourbons I know little about. So I was excited to try these.
Daviess Sour Mash and Cabernet Finish
No age statement or mash bill
48 ABV (96 proof)
$40-$45
Sour Mash:
I love sour mash bourbons because they’re light and sweet --- just like the Daviess Sour Mash. As a refresher, distillers take old mash and use it to start the fermentation of a new mash, providing a greater consistency between barrels and more sweetness to the final product. A sourdough starter would be the cooking equivalent.
This sour mash has a heavy and very appealing citrus and honey nose. On the first sip, orange and vanilla burst forward followed by a surprisingly long finish. But there’s a surprise --- pepper at the very end, a nice little hint of spice that reminds you this product is a blend of bourbons and ryes. It goes down easy and won’t need ice. Novice bourbon drinkers will find this very approachable, and the price point is now firmly middle of the road, given today’s going rates. If you want something light, fun, and very tasty, give this a try.
Cabernet Finish
I’ll come clean. I only have one bourbon that’s been finished in a wine barrel --- Angel’s Envy finished in port. I know people go ga-ga over that brand, and I think the port finished thing has always resulted in a bit of a mental drinking block for me. It’s not a bad bourbon at all. I just have a hard time getting past the wine barrel finish stuff.
So the good people at Lux Row send me a cabernet finished bourbon and I was ---- a bit weirded out. But here goes.
I did get red wine on the nose, or at least I think I did; maybe my brain was playing tricks on me. So I let it rest about 15 minutes, took another sniff, and yep. Red wine. Underneath, a little licorice comes through with a hint of sweetness.
I didn’t get any wine on the palette. In fact, this bourbon surprised me with a very thick mouth feel that immediately turned full and sweet. There’s honey and currants, a rich mixture you don’t often find in bourbon. While sipping this, the mouth feel reminded me of a sauterne, only not as sweet. I was so impressed I defrosted one of black and white cookies I brought home from New York City to see how this would pair with a dessert (much like sauterne). Not that I need an excuse to eat dessert but this bourbon gave me one.
One word: Damn. That chocolate from the cookie along with the deep, rich fullness of the bourbon created a flavor bomb in my mouth. The chocolate altered the taste and the wine barrel taste popped, reminding me of a good Merlot. (There is such a thing, despite what you heard in Sideways.) The finish contained a potpourri of chocolate, licorice, black currants, and the sweetness of plums.
It’s safe to say this bourbon has started me on the path to overcoming my bourbon and wine barrel aversion.
These are both very strong buys. If you come across one, buy one, especially the cabernet finish since Lux Row only released 4,000 bottles of them.
That’s it for this month! You can find bourbon cocktails on our new Facebook page.