Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a terrific holiday and looks forward to a prosperous New Year.
There’s not much news, and that’s not unusual for this time of the year. So I’m combining the January and February editions. If something worthwhile happens, I’ll send out a newsletter next month.
NEW RELEASES
A few new releases are just out or will be soon. Among them:
Cream of Kentucky’s 16-year release carries a whopping $329.99 price tag. I like it, but not that much.
Old Forester’s 1924, a 10-year, 100-proof offering, has a different mash bill --- 79% corn, 11% rye, 10% malted barley (standard OF is 72/18/10). Yes, it’s pricey ($115), but the early reviews look good. I’ll get a bottle (when I can find one) and report back.
Two excellent bourbons at far more reasonable price points are out --- the Larceny Barrel Proof (batch A124, 124.2 proof, $65) and the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (A124, 119 proof, $70). For those seeking value, buy those two and call it a day.
Otherwise, there’s not a whole lot of significance until May.
FACE OFF: 2022 vs. 2023 Remus Gatsby Reserve
Note: Ross & Squibb provided the 2023 Remus Gatsy Reserve samples for review this month without any special considerations. The Bourbon Resource appreciates Ross & Squibb. provided a terrific opportunity to compare it to the 2022.
INTRO
The Remus Gatsby Reserve won the Bourbon Resource Gold Medal Award for Best Premium Bourbon (MSRP $199 and up), which we announced in December. Here’s what we said about the bourbon, which retails for $249:
“Few bourbons are worth such lofty prices. But the Ross & Squibb produced Remus Gatsby Reserve gets the Gold Medal in this category. First, the package is a work of art, with a box that opens like unfolding wings before unveiling a bottle resembling a skyscraper. But the packaging and bottle wouldn’t matter if it contained lousy bourbon. It doesn’t. The sweet cherry candy and licorice jump out and remain the predominant flavors. I let it rest in my Glencairn glass for a few minutes, tried again, and got a little vanilla. On the nose, it reminds me of the Lux Row 12 year. It’s well-balanced with a long, smooth finish and is an exceptional bourbon. You can read the full review here.”
How will the 2023 version hold up? Let’s take a look.
Remus Gatsby Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
98.1 Proof
MSRP: $199.99
Remus Gatsby Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Yes. Keep buying it.
History
It’s the same as last year: The Remus Gatsby Reserve, celebrates F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, “The Great Gatsby,” which examines prohibition-era America during the Jazz age. The bourbon, crafted by master distiller Ian Stirsman and his team at Ross & Squibb Distillery, is made with 15-year-old reserves of straight bourbon whiskey.
Remus Gatsby Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Praline, caramel, honey
👉🏻Taste: Cherry, crème brulee, pepper, mint
👉🏻Finish: Warm, honey, vanilla, long, pepper
Remus Gatsby Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Summary
There are some differences between the 2022 and 2023. When tasting, I got more butterscotch, maple syrup, and oak on the ’22 and more sweetness on the finish. The 2023’s flavors, though, balance just as well. The crème brulee and cherry make a marvelous combination, so much so that it’ll be tough to stop at one glass.
Conclusion – Remus Gatsby Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
I like the 2022 a bit better than the 2023, but that’s saying you prefer Jordan to LeBron. Spending $200 is a lot for any bourbon. But if you have a birthday coming up, and a group of friends willing to pool their money, ask for this.
Have you tried the Remus Gatsby Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey? What do you think?
Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon Whiskey Sweet Mash
95 Proof
MSRP: $79.99
Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon Whiskey Sweet Mash
I’ve never had a bourbon quite like this.
History
Jimmy Red corn, according to the distillery’s website, was nearly extinct, as the legendary moonshine corn had dwindled to two stalks before a group of dedicated people brought the seeds back to life.
The only thing I know about corn is that I like it grilled on the cob. So here’s what High Wire says about the corn it uses:
“Jimmy Red corn is the most remarkable corn we've ever worked with. Nutty, sweet, and mineralic with extremely high oil content, the fermented mash produces a 3" thick oil cap. We distill on the grain, so all of that oil is blended back into the mash and provides an unusually creamy mouthfeel in the distillate. The Jimmy Red whiskey is aged for a minimum of 2 years, creating a straight bourbon unlike any other we've ever experienced."
Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon Whiskey Sweet Mash
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Sweet corn, honey, sugar
👉🏻Taste: Creamy, minerally, oily, honey, pepper
👉🏻Finish: Warm, short, honey, vanilla, thick
Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon Whiskey Sweet Mash
Summary
My very good friend, Jonathan Macri, the dean of the Knicks Film School, wanted to send me a bottle of bourbon I might not have. That’s hard to do when you have almost 400 of them on your shelf. But he found one I didn’t have and never heard of.
At first, I couldn’t determine if I liked it. The mouthfeel is far thicker than anything I’ve tasted, and the sugary-sweet corn on the nose had me thinking this would be an over-the-top drink best to mix with.
But I was wrong. I came back to it and found it to be, as wine people say, approachable. It’s a far different taste, and I suppose that’s all due to the corn. But I found it goes well in tea (it makes a banging hit toddy), and it’s fantastic on a cold afternoon. The Midwest weather has been brutal, and a short shot of this does wonders on a miserable day.
Conclusion – Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon Whiskey Sweet Mash
I’m glad Jon sent this to me. I never would have bought it on my own (it’s hard to find) and now I have something that few others do. It’s so different that I’d try to get a taste at a bar before buying, especially at the price point. I’ll happily sip mine and share it so I can get other opinions. I’d buy a second bottle.
Have you tried the Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon Whiskey Sweet Mash? What do you think?
Bourbon Obsessed new weekly newsletter
I don’t know how the folks at Bourbon Obsessed do it. I have enough trouble getting out a monthly newsletter, and they’ve just gone to weekly. (The shame I feel!)
I appreciate every one of you who takes the time to read and communicate. I know how hard this is and like to support others who do the same. You can show Bourbon Obsessed a little love by signing up for their newsletter here. In addition to reviews, the site has a boatload of information about distillery tours that will be helpful to anyone going to Bourbon Country.
Ray Marcano writes and publishes the Bourbon Resource monthly, and he’s president of the 32 Staves Society. He’s a bourbon lover and long-time journalist who freelances for some of the country’s largest media brands. He’s the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, and a Fulbright fellow.