THE BOURBON RESOURCE: NOVEMBER 2024 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
BTAC released, Lux Row small batch finished in sherry casks, news and GIFTS!!
THE BIG NEWS
Buffalo Trace BTAC is out. Ok. I realize that, for most of us mortals, finding a BTAC bottle in the wild is like the high school prom queen ditching the quarterback for the Nintendo nerd. It can happen! But generally not. That doesn’t stop us from wishing, and it’s that time of year to see if dreams come true. The BTAC lineup —- Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon; George T. Stagg Bourbon; Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey; Sazerac 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, and William Larue Weller Bourbon, each have an MSRP of $149.99. Yeah, right. On the secondary, these babies command a haul. Handy’s about $475, and it goes up from there. GTS is $800-plus, and the others are $1,250 to $1,500. Good luck. Maybe someone generous will buy you one for Christmas.
MORE NEWS
Angel’s Envy has released its 13th annual Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels. The press release says that Angel’s Envy changed things up a bit by “introducing a Tawny Port Wine finish blended with the traditional Ruby Port Wine finish.” I’m not a fan of bourbons finished in various barrels, but cask strength has my attention. That attention waned when I saw the price —- an MSRP of $229.99.
Booker’s has released its “Master Distillers Batch” 2024-03, its third releaser of the year. The bourbon is aged 7 years, 8 months, and 7 days and comes in at a stout at 130.3 proof (!). Bring the heat, baby! It has a reasonable $99.99 MSRP, and I’m on the hunt, even though it’s available in limited quantities.
Good news (sort of) for fans of King of Kentucky bourbon. Brown-Foreman has announced it will release more bottles of the limited-release, 16-year-aged product. Brown-Foreman says it will release 63 barrels, or in the 10,000 bottle range, depending on barrel yield. That’s a LOT more than the 3,800 bottles released in 2023. The MSRP has increased by $30 to $329.99. To think that just two years ago, I got a bottle for $180 and then sold it because I thought that was too much for bourbon. Stupid is as stupid does, I guess. The King is a delicious hot pour that only burns a hole in your wallet.
Woodford Resserve’s annual holiday bottle is out. Its website says, “This annual limited edition holiday bottle features golden bows on the label, embodying the gift-giving spirit for celebrations worldwide.” A 1L bottle has a listed MSRP of $52.99.
REVIEW:
Lux Row Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Cask
This sample was provided by Lux Row Distillers without any special consideration. We appreciate Lux Row.
Lux Row Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Cask
112 Proof
MSRP: $59.99
Lux Row Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Cask
This one brings the heat. In a very good way.
History
This is a new expression by Lux Row as it expands its bourbon line.
Lux Row Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Cask
Mash bill:
N/A. Crafted from small batches of ryed straight bourbon finished for six months in the sherry cask
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Candied cinnamon, grain, fresh cut flowers, pepper
👉🏻Taste: Dried cherry, grape jam, pepper, coffee
👉🏻Finish: Rye toast, pepper, chocolate, cherry licorice
Lux Row Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Cask
Summary
I was prepared to hate this. I tend to have a bias against bourbons finished in various casks because I think it’s a gimmick that detracts from the taste of the bourbon.
Now that I’m off my soapbox, I quickly became enamored with this pour. The nose picks up candied cinnamon, which takes center stage, and then the grain and pepper hit hard. But it dissipates, and the flowers take over.
At 112 proof, this is a hot bourbon, which doesn’t bother me. But it’s also an intense, thick drink that coats your mouth and leads to a long, deep finish. You get the rye toast upfront and a little chocolate and licorice, but —- wait for it —- a pleasant, peppery warmth makes a home in the middle of your chest. I felt it for 3 minutes and 56 seconds ….. I timed it.
Lux Row Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Cask
I would have thought that the sherry finish would have made this overly candy-like, but it didn’t. I’m not surprised the heavy rye bourbons leave a satisfying combination of sweetness and heat. I’m not sure I can get a bottle in Ohio, but I’m going to look. This one’s a winner. It’ll make a terrific winter drink.
Have you tried the Lux Row Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Cask? What do you think?
THE BOURBON RESOURCE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Last year’s Holiday Gift Guide had some serious (nosing kits) and not-so-serious (ugly sweater) offerings. So, what are some of your options this year? This year’s guide is heavy on bourbon and accessories.
BOURBON SAMPLER SETS
A bottle of bourbon is a great gift. But if you’re not sure what someone likes, a sampler set is a good choice. You can find sets with anywhere from three to 12 bottles, some distillery-specific, some with variety.
Yellow Stone
This set contains 375ML bottles of the Yellowstone Select, Yellowstone Special Finishes Collection, and Toasted and Yellowstone Special Finishes Collection Rum Cask. It’s a nice variety for someone unsure if they’re a fan of Yellow Stone. $49.99
12 days of bourbon gift pack
This one caught my eye. It has 12, 50ML bottles that include some real goodies—Elijah Craig Small Batch, Larceny, Buffalo Trace, and more. There are lots of them available, but I saw one here. $99.99
Ultimate Old Fashion Box
Old Fashion aficionados should love this. This set contains enough bourbon, syrup, bitters, etc., for eight servings. The classic set has some good bourbons (Elijah Craig small batch, Ezra Brooks 99), but you can also upgrade to a top-shelf version that includes better bourbons, like the Four Roses Small Batch Select. $114.99 for the classic, $50 more for the top-shelf. (Strangely, there are far more of these complete Old Fashion sets than Manhattan sets.)
ADVENT CALENDAR
Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar, 2024
There are lots of advent calendars available, but Flaviar’s is the best. It comes with 24, 50ML bottles, two Glencairn glasses, a tasting booklet, and free access to other goodies for a year, like discounts and free shipping on certain bottles. This always sells out, so if you’re interested, act fast. $250
SUBSCRIPTION TO A BOURBON CLUB
The subscription model has taken off in recent years, with various groups offering programs that deliver an unnamed bourbon monthly or every other month. The subscriptions cost about one mid-priced bottle a month. There’s some mystery since you don’t know what you’re getting, but that’s part of the fun. Some of the better-known clubs and their listed prices include Flaviar, from $62/month; Taster’s Club ($69.99/month and up); Pourmore (from $50/month); and the Craft Whiskey Club (from $55/month). When researching a club, try to find the types of bourbons available through the subscription. You’re not going to see a lot of well-known brands, which can be good if you get an enjoyable bottle you didn’t know existed. It can also be bad if you get disappointing stuff from a little-known distillery trying to make its way into the world.
ENGRAVED FLASK
I still take a flask on short trips of a day or two. I don’t want to buy a bottle and waste it. An engraved flask provides an air of coolness. There are a number of businesses that sell these flasks, so you can effortlessly search on Google. The Executive Gift Shop has a number of nice options in the $45 range, including metal, leather, monogrammed, or full names. Another option —- this insulated flask holds 8.6 ounces or about four shots. At $85, it looks sharp, too.
BAR DISPLAY
Not everyone has a lot of room to display their bourbon. This bar display, available at Wayfair, solves the problem. The tabletop rack holds 12 bottles, but you might be able to squeeze in a few more. The dozen-bottle version sells for $125, though Wayfair has smaller/less expensive ($51) and larger, pricier versions. ($160)
WHISKEY TOWER
This is a different and classy way to pour bourbon. The Whiskey Tower is like a beer tap handle for whiskey. Add your bottle, pull the handle, and bourbon pours. Moreover, you can customize the look with different handles and sleeves.
THREE PACT OF BOURBON FOR $50
We often get carried away with the expensive bourbon that’s hard to get. But there are so many inexpensive good ones available that creating a custom pact isn’t that hard. Try these:
Benchmark Old No. 8 Brand Bourbon: $10. I used to bypass this bourbon because it resides on the bottom shelf. No more. I keep a bottle on hand for novice drinkers who don’t like heat (80 proof) or need something to mix with a soda pop. This Buffalo Trace product doesn’t have a lot of character, but the hint of vanilla makes it an excellent value.
Evan Williams 1783: $18. This is a real gem of a bourbon, with standard notes of caramel and vanilla. At 90 proof, this smooth drinker makes a solid pour for anyone who wants a drink.
Heaven Hill Bottle in Bond: $20. This hidden gem is a go-to for many Bourbon Resource readers. It has a lot of depth, with the standard bourbon notes prominent.
That would make a fantastic gift basket.
COMING IN DECEMBER
The annual Bourbon Resource Awards! Don’t miss it.
That’s it for this month! If you’re an NBA fan, look at the Knicks Film School newsletter, which has the smartest commentary on all things New York Knicks and NBA basketball. You can click on the below button to learn more.
And our friends at Bourbon Obsessed have a tremendous catalog of bourbon and distillery reviews. You can see more from them here:
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.