This is the third installment of grouping distilleries by mashbill (See Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill). You were probably first introduced to Jim Beam white or green label while taking shots from red solo cups in college however Jim Beam distillery is so much more than that. Jim Beam produces some great bourbons and a few on this list that you didn’t realize were made by Jim Beam.
Unlike other distilleries, Maker’s Mark has not strayed in to the world of special releases or experimentation. The majority of Maker’s Mark special releases are simply special edition bottles. In fact, they hadn’t released a new product in about 50 years prior to the “46” release which is why I was intrigued when Maker’s Mark released Maker’s Mark 46 a few years ago.
So, what makes “46” different. Maker’s Mark adds seared French oak staves into the traditional charred white oak barrel toward the end of its aging. The French oak and additional char add complexity and flavor to an already good bourbon.
In the fall of 2013 Heaven Hill Distillery released the first Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (ECBP) which quickly became one of the hottest bourbons in the market. ECBP is a 12 year old uncut, unfiltered bourbon which Heaven Hill releases once a quarter. Aside from the great flavor and high proof what make ECBP even greater is it’s retail price is between $40-$55. With such a low price it’s hard to find a better bourbon for the money. That’s assuming you’re able to find a bottle in the first place 🙂
The 2014 Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition is an 11 year old from the Four Roses OESF mash bill. The OESF mash bill is 20% rye with a more herbal tasting yeast strand. Since this is a single barrel release proof will vary but will be between 108.3 and 127.6 proof. My sample was right at 120 proof (60.0% ABV)
The Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition hasn’t even released across the country but we already have more great bourbon to look forward to this fall. According to the TTB the 2014 Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition will be a blend of 4 Four Roses mash bills, OBSK 9 year, OBSV 13 year, OESV12 year and OBSF 11 year. This barrel proof release comes in at 120.3. The 2014 comes with a pretty significant drop in age and increase in proof compared to the 2013 which was a blend of OBSV 18 year, OBSK 13 year and OESK 13 year and 100 proof.
It seems like there is a new “craft” bourbon or whiskey on the shelf every time I walk in to a liquor store. Unfortunately, most of these “craft” distilleries are nothing more than Non-Distiller Producers or young whiskey that taste terrible. After my first sip of Breckenridge Bourbon I realized this was something interesting.