Savvy Craft Bourbon Buys
Here’s a trio of our favorite hidden gems to add a curveball or three to your regular whiskey rotation. Each of the selections below boasts top-tier pedigree (two from MGP and one from Heaven Hill) and is the result of meticulous barrel selection by some of the finest palates in the game.
Smooth Ambler 6 Year Old “Old Scout” K&L Exclusive Barrel #24778 Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($54.99)
K&L Notes: Smooth Ambler, born in the hills of West Virginia, is relatively new by whiskey industry standards. They not only acknowledge their differences from Kentucky-style bourbon but embrace them as their “fiercely independent spirit.” We’ve been buying single casks from the little distillery for many years, but they’ve only recently been able to provide us with Indiana bourbon of more significant age. We selected this cask more than a year ago and luckily bottling wasn’t completed until after the cask’s sixth birthday. While of course, age is just a number when it comes to bourbon, these whiskies do seem to turn a corner at the six-year mark, and this cask is no exception. Offering a powerful bouquet of aromas ranging from spicy to nutty, the Old Scout always delivers an incredible experience.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: March 08, 2023
This fun little barrel of Old Scout offers a lot of character and some serious intensity. If you like a nice, spicy bourbon, this is the barrel for you. Let’s taste it. The nose is a mixture of sweet barrel, fresh cut oak, toasted nuts, and dark roasted grains. Subtle, sweet, stewed fruits and an unusual maple wood character really take the nose outside the standard MGP profile. Maybe it’s the extended time at the West Virginia warehouse facility, but this definitely doesn’t smell anything like most of the MGP we get. On the palate, we’re getting more familiar character with sweet corn, big toasted vanilla, and a powerful spice character. Lovely balance between the intense oak spice and the sweet grainy character—ultimately it succumbs to the power of the wood and gives way to a long rich minty, peppery finish. An intense and complex barrel that takes the MGP thing in a truly new direction!
Will Blakely | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 28, 2023
Time and again, these Old Scout single barrels offer incredible value and distinct character in a world flooded with six-year bourbon. This one especially creeps up on you, starting with an unassuming nose of charred sugar, subtle sandalwood, peach skin, and pleasant baking spice. The first sip, however, grabs your attention instantly with sweet grain, apricot, vanilla, heavy caramel, and some serious heat. Cracked pepper, candied ginger, and cashew create further depth, keeping your taste buds thoroughly engaged. The addition of water reveals softer fruit—banana and papaya—as well as Brazil nuts. While I normally prefer these at full strength, I actually enjoy how a dash of water gives it a rounder mouthfeel and expands the flavor. It doesn’t feel diluted at all; instead, the texture feels settled and full, removing the hard edge that can be so polarizing in these cask-strength offerings. If you’re looking for something complex and refreshingly different, I definitely recommend picking this up. Remember to give it plenty of air and see if you like it better with a splash of water.
Smoke Wagon “Uncut – Unfiltered” Batch #183B Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($64.99)
K&L Notes: The Nevada H&C Distilling Co., home to Smoke Wagon Bourbon, is one of the early wave of craft distillers who nabbed a good contract from the excellent distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Twelve years later, these guys are sitting on some really top-notch straight bourbon, but no one seems to know anything about them. The distillery is in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. They’ve released a range of excellent bourbons at various price points, but we’re only now getting access to the very best juice. The Uncut is their flagship product and represents the oldest and finest stocks (which are not allocated for single barrels by owner Aaron Chepenik). Each batch is carefully blended for a powerful, rich, complex bourbon character that’s become a staple of many whiskey lovers’ home bars… when they can find it. This tiny bottler in Nevada is definitely one to keep an eye on.
John E. Fitzgerald “Larceny A123” Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)
93 points Whisky Advocate: “Larceny’s first barrel proof release of 2023 makes a big splash with a bold whiskey that stands among the best bottlings in the series. The nose is layered with sweet cinnamon, oranges, cloves, and a sweet nuttiness. This never hides its proof but is well integrated from its nose through the long finish. On the palate, the nuttiness is even more evident with pistachio ice cream, toasted walnuts, pecan pie, and butterscotch. (SE)” (03/2023)
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