Category Archives: Reviews

Read bourbon tasting notes, critiques, price-point and value. Everything you ever wanted to know about specific bourbon pours.

Reviews

Everything You Need to Know About Loch Lomond 12-Year Scotch

Leave a comment

Loch Lomond isn’t the loudest name in Scotch, but that might be part of the appeal. Tucked into the southern edge of the Highlands, this distillery has been quietly doing things its own way for years. Their 12-Year-Old single malt—aptly titled “Perfectly Balanced”—lands right in the sweet spot: age-stated, reasonably priced, and just interesting enough to keep you coming back to the glass.

Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Composition and Proof

  • Mashbill: 100% malted barley
  • Age: 12 years
  • Barrels: First-fill, refill, and re-charred American oak
  • ABV: 46% (92 proof)
  • Filtration: Non-chill filtered
  • Still Type: Swan neck and straight neck stills with copper plates
  • Peat Level: Light smoke from ~5% peated malt

Background

Loch Lomond Distillery sits in Alexandria, not far from the loch itself. It opened in the 1960s, but the brand’s roots stretch back much further. Today, it’s part of the Loch Lomond Group, a vertically integrated operation that also owns Glen Scotia (read our review of Glen Scotia’s 10-Year-Old here)and runs its own cooperage and bottling line. In a Scotch industry filled with outsourcing, Loch Lomond handles the whole process in-house. That’s rare.

They’ve also got a unique setup when it comes to distillation. Most Scotch distilleries stick to traditional swan neck pot stills. Loch Lomond uses those too—but they also run straight neck stills fitted with copper plates, which gives them an extra level of control. It’s technical, but it works. The result is a single malt that’s clean, consistent, and layered without being overthought.

They don’t stop at distillation. Their cooperage team, one of only a few in Scotland still doing the work on-site, checks and reconditions over 30,000 casks a year. That kind of detail shows up in the whisky. You’re not just tasting the spirit—you’re tasting the decisions they made every step of the way.

This 12-Year-Old release is a good entry point. There’s some fruit, a little vanilla, a touch of smoke. It’s dialed in but still friendly, and it never leans into anything too trendy or polarizing. Just solid whisky, done well.

Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Review

This is a no-nonsense bottle. Tall, clean, minimal fuss. The label design is straightforward, with a copper-toned logo that nods to the stills inside the distillery. It doesn’t scream “collectible,” and that’s kind of the point. It looks like what it is: a bottle you’re meant to open and enjoy, not admire behind glass.

Nose

Right off the pour, you get pear and stone fruit—fresh, not overly ripe—followed by vanilla and light honey. There’s a wisp of smoke if you go looking for it, and a hint of dried spices. Nothing jumps out too loudly, but everything’s in its place.

Score: 7.8

Palate and Finish

If you think peaty scotches are too overpowering, but like the flavor in small doses, this one is for you. Clean and slightly oily. Citrus and chocolate show up first, along with oak and a bit of toasted cereal. The smoke is subtle but lingers just long enough to give it depth. The finish isn’t flashy, but it holds its structure and fades evenly.

Score: 8.8

Value
At around 60 bucks, Loch Lomond 12 sits comfortably in that “reach for it again” tier. It’s not trying to win awards at every turn—it’s trying to be something you’d open on a weeknight and feel good about. That’s exactly what it delivers.

You’re getting age, non-chill filtration, a thoughtful barrel mix, and a distillery that actually knows how to use its equipment. No gimmicks. No trendy secondary finishes. Just well-made single malt with a distinct regional identity. If you’ve been drinking Glenfiddich 12 or Glenlivet and want to branch out into something with a little more texture and edge, this is a smart next step.

Score: 8.0

Bourbon Dose Final Score

Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old isn’t going to blow the doors off with smoke or cask theatrics—and that’s its strength. It stays focused. You get the orchard fruit and honey you’d expect from a Highland, but there’s more behind it: clean citrus, mild spice, a touch of peat smoke used like a seasoning instead of a headline.

Is this a bottle I’d replace? Absolutely. It’s versatile, reliable, and easy to recommend. It won’t dominate a tasting lineup, but it might quietly be the one you finish first. That’s worth something. Give it a try.

Final Verdict: 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Loch Lomond Scotch any good?
Yes. It’s one of the most technically capable distilleries in Scotland and was named IWSC’s 2024 Scotch Producer of the Year. Their 12-Year is a great balance of price, age, and flavor.

What does Loch Lomond 12 taste like?
It’s light on the smoke, heavy on orchard fruits like pear and peach, with hints of vanilla, lemon, and biscuit. Clean and structured, not overly sweet.

Is Loch Lomond 12 peated?
Only a little. Around 5% of the whisky used is peated. The smoke is subtle and used to enhance—not dominate—the flavor.

Where is Loch Lomond whisky made?
In Alexandria, Scotland, near the southern Highlands. It’s one of the only distilleries using both traditional and straight neck stills.

How much is Loch Lomond 12-Year?
Around $59.99 at retail. It’s often available online and through U.S. retailers thanks to distribution via Foley Family Wines & Spirits.

Is Loch Lomond chill filtered?
No. The 12-Year-Old is non-chill filtered and bottled at 92 proof, so the mouthfeel is preserved and flavor isn’t stripped out.

What makes Loch Lomond different?
They distill, mature, and bottle everything in-house. They even run their own cooperage. That level of control shows up in the glass.

Reviews

Is Glen Scotia 10-Year the Best Value Scotch of 2025?

1 Comment

Glen Scotia is one of those distilleries that flies under the radar, even though it’s been around since 1832. Tucked away in Campbeltown, a once-booming Scotch region now home to just three distilleries, Glen Scotia sticks to tradition and turns out serious single malt. Their recently re-released 10-Year-Old is a nod to the old-school Campbeltown style, with a coastal influence and bourbon barrel backbone that make it stand out in a crowded category.

Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old Composition and Proof

Mashbill: 100% malted barley from Scotland’s east coast
Aging: 10 years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels
ABV / Proof: 40% ABV (80 proof)
Filtration: Non-chill filtered
Water Source: Crosshill Loch
Still Type: Swan neck copper pot stills
Warehouse Style: Traditional dunnage and palletized warehouses near the sea

Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old Background

Campbeltown used to be the whisky capital of Scotland. At one point, more than two dozen distilleries operated in the tiny coastal town. These days, only three remain, Glen Scotia being one of them. And while others leaned into modernization or cult followings, Glen Scotia kept things quiet and focused on the fundamentals: heritage, quality, and that unmistakable salty edge from the ocean breeze.

The distillery still uses much of its original layout from the 1830s, including the stillroom and dunnage warehouse. That old-world feel carries through in the whisky itself. There’s something comforting about a distillery that doesn’t need a rebrand every few years to stay relevant.

In 2025, Glen Scotia partnered with Foley Family Wines & Spirits to expand its U.S. reach. That move brought this 10-Year-Old expression back into the spotlight, making it more widely available to Scotch fans on this side of the Atlantic.

The 10-Year is unpeated, non-chill filtered, and aged entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels. That combo lets the Campbeltown character shine through while still offering an approachable profile for newer Scotch drinkers. It’s a good example of Glen Scotia’s ability to bridge traditional styles with modern palates.

Iain McAlister, the distillery’s longtime Master Distiller, deserves a lot of credit here. A Campbeltown native, McAlister has helped guide Glen Scotia back into relevance over the last decade. Under his watch, the distillery has racked up some serious awards, including Best in Show at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its 25-Year-Old.

Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old Review

The Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old comes in a clean, no-frills bottle that feels right at home on a back bar or home shelf. You can see the pale gold whisky clearly, and the navy and gold label leans traditional without trying too hard. There’s a quiet confidence to the design—just like the whisky inside.

Nose

The nose immediately hits you with cinnamon, then leads with a soft hit of citrus, that’s somehow reminiscent of the sea breeze. Eventually, the nose is followed by toasted oak and hefty amount of green apple. Once yu pick up on the green apple in the nose, it doesn’t go away.

It’s bright and fresh, with a touch of spice and salinity that reminds you this comes from a place where the ocean is never far away.

Score: 8.9/10

Palate and Finish

All the fruit and citrus that you got on the nose disappears once you take a sip.

On the palate, things turn richer. There’s brown sugar up front, right before ginger hits your palette. Then some orange marmalade and pineapple, all wrapped in a layer of creamy vanilla, that one can only assume comes straight from the bourbon barrels.

The finish is smooth and slow, with the iconic smokiness of scotch lingering around.

On top of many things, the palette reminded me that this pour would make an great base liquor for our “Smoky Scotch Old Fashioned“.

Score: 9.1/10

Value

This is a great entrypoint into Cambeltown scotches.

At $74.99, this is a bottle that punches above its price point in today’s single malt market. It’s age-stated, non-chill filtered, and comes from one of the most historic regions in Scotland. You’re getting a decade in the barrel and a true regional character without the markup that comes with trendier brands.

For Scotch drinkers who’ve mostly stuck to Speyside or Highland bottles, Glen Scotia offers a different perspective. This isn’t smoky like Islay or delicate like Lowland—it’s somewhere in between, with texture, depth, and a salty breeze behind it. For under $80, that’s worth a pour.

Bourbon Dose Final Score

Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old is a reminder that not every great whisky needs to come with a marketing gimmick. It’s well-made, regionally distinctive, and genuinely enjoyable to drink. Whether you’re just getting into Scotch or looking to revisit a classic style, this bottle delivers.

Will definitely be buying this one again.

Final Verdict: 8.6/10

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Glen Scotia a good whisky?
Yes, Glen Scotia is widely respected among Scotch enthusiasts. It has won major awards, including “Best in Show Whisky” at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The 10-Year-Old release offers excellent value and showcases the classic Campbeltown style: oily, coastal, and complex.

What does Glen Scotia 10 taste like?
It is a non-peated single malt with notes of sea spray, green apple, brown sugar, citrus, and creamy vanilla. It finishes with gentle spice—think cinnamon and ginger—with a long, smooth mouthfeel.

Is Glen Scotia peated or unpeated?
Glen Scotia makes both peated and unpeated whiskies. The 10-Year-Old expression is unpeated, focusing on the maritime and bourbon cask influences rather than smoke.

What region of Scotland is Glen Scotia from?
Glen Scotia comes from Campbeltown, one of Scotland’s five official whisky regions. Once home to more than 25 distilleries, Campbeltown now has just three: Glen Scotia, Springbank, and Glengyle.

Who owns Glen Scotia Scotch?
Glen Scotia is distributed in the United States by Foley Family Wines & Spirits as of 2025. The distillery itself is part of the Loch Lomond Group, a well-known Scotch producer.

Reviews

Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

Leave a comment

Frey Ranch prides itself in being a true Estate Distillery. They grow, malt, distill, mature, and bottle all of their Straight Bourbon whiskey on-site in Fallon, Nevada.

Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon, Composition, and Proof

  • Mashbill: 66.6% Yellow Dent Corn, 10% Winter Wheat, 11.4% Rye and 12% Malted-on-site Two-Row Barely
  • Age: 5 Years
  • Proof: 90
  • Parent Company: Independent

Frey Ranch Distillery, located in northern Nevada, stands on a 165-year-old, 1,500-acre family farm. They grow all their grains, malt their barley onsite, and produce and age their whiskey on the same grounds. Their unique combination of continuous and pot still distillation allows for both quantity and quality control. They also own the distinction of being the first licensed distillery in Nevada since prohibition.

History: Founded in 2006 by Colby and Ashley Frey, Frey Ranch Distillery stands on the family’s 2,000-acre farm in Fallon, Nevada. Their roots in Northern Nevada farming span over 150 years, making them a fifth-generation legacy. Frey Ranch is Nevada’s sole distillery that grows 100% of its whiskey grains on-site.

Process: Frey Ranch’s grain-to-glass approach is a labor of love. They cultivate around 2,500 acres, growing corn, wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Every step, from growing the barley to milling, malting, and distilling, occurs on their farm. Their slow-grown wheat, rye, and barley yield over 100,000 9-liter cases of Frey Ranch Whiskey. Quality prevails over quantity, with a majority of their barrels dedicated to their Four Grain Straight Bourbon.

Uniqueness: What truly makes Frey Ranch exceptional is their unwavering commitment to using homegrown grains in every bottle. They experiment with different mash bills and malting processes, leveraging their abundant grain resources. As climate change impacts agriculture, Frey Ranch adapts, ensuring their ingredients never leave their possession. Their sustainable practices and genuine passion for whiskey make them a standout in the industry

Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Review

This bottle is heavy duty. It’s cylindrical, and is capped by a big ole metal stopper. Frey Ranch gets mega points, however, for the amount of info they put on this bottle. They include a detail breakdown of the mashbill, along with a note from Colby Frey, and literally the coordinates of their ranch.

Nose

The nose starts with a heavy hit of malt. Right when you’re getting used to the hit, a strong whiff of spicy rye takes it’s place. Once the rye and malt finish fighting it out for superiority, oak, earth, and citrus settle in. Interestingly enough, the nose has a distinct lack of heat. This makes it a prime taster for people who enjoy bourbons that sit on the more mellow side of the spectrum.

Once you’ve allowed this bottle to open up after around 15 minutes or so, rye and oak takeover, with interesting undertones of hay, fresh-cut grass, and clay.

Score: 8.2/10

Palette and Finish

The palette is very mellow. You get hit with a lot of sweetness up front (which is customary for corn & malted-barley bourbons). At first pass, the sweetness is mostly honey and sweet barley. But as the flavor sets in, you get a hint of the rye that underlies this mashbill. Oak intertwines with the sweet honey flavor, and the entire pour takes on an earthy vibes. Something you’d want to drink on your back porch on a hot summer day… or something that would remind you of your grandpa’s old rusty tractor (in the most nostalgic way possible).

Score: 8.0/10

Value

Per booz.app, this bottle retails for around $49.99-$68.86. That pricepoint is about on-par with something like Old Forester’s Whiskey Row collection.

One downside to this bourbon, however, is that it isn’t easy to find. This is a worthwhile bottle to order (if your state allows delivery), but otherwise your best chance at getting Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey might be at a bar.

You can also buy Frey Ranch straight from their website (here).

Score: 7.5/10

Best Cocktail to Make with Frey Ranch Bourbon

One fun note about Frey Ranch, is that they actually sent a recipe for a Gold Rush Cocktail (which they title the “Ranch Hand”, recipe here).

Of course, your friends at Bourbon Dose immediately capitalized on this opportunity. We spun up a delicious Gold Rush cocktail recipe variation of our own, which you can read below. Frey Ranch was an excellent fit for this cocktail.

Read: Bourbon Dose’s Gold Rush Cocktail Recipe

Bourbon Dose Final Score

You can really taste the love that went into distilling this bourbon. The amount of work it takes to make a pure estate bourbon, including the grains, distilling process, learning, and aging, makes Frey Ranch a unicorn in its own right. They didn’t outsource the grains or the process. They made it all on their ranch. And you can absolutely tell that they take pride in their work, and dumped an extra dose of love into the process of bringing this bourbon to our tables.

Get a bottle of this, and thank the farmers in your life.
Final Verdict: 7.9/10.

Reviews

Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon Review

Leave a comment

Penelope Barrel Strength is strong, complex, and delicious. Read our full review for Penelope’s Barrel Strength bourbon, along with tasting notes, rating, and background.

Barrel Strength Age, Composition, and Proof

  • Mashbill: 74% Corn, 16% Wheat, 7% Rye and 3% Malted Barely
  • Age: 4-5 Years
  • Proof: 116.0
  • Parent Company: Luxco

Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon is a product of Penelope Bourbon, a company founded in 2018 by two childhood friends, Michael Paladini and Daniel Polise. Named after Michael’s daughter, Penelope Bourbon has been one of the country’s fastest-growing whiskey brands. Penelope’s “core” is a series of straight bourbon whiskey expressions that are all uniquely blended from three different mash bills sourced from MGP. Penelope Bourbon has its own distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where it bottles and labels its products. The distillery is situated on a plot of land that was originally part of a large plantation, and has been in continuous operation since the Civil War.

Penelope Barrel Strength is one of the 4 “Core Series” of Penelope Bourbon. This offering is a “Four Grain” bourbon, consisting of corn, wheat, rye, and barley as the core ingredients.

One interesting note is that while this has a four-grain blend, this is still technically considered bourbon. According to federal law bourbon must contain at least a 51% corn composition to meet the legal definition.

Penelope Barrel Strength has a mash bill of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. The bourbon is aged for 4 to 5 years in new charred oak barrels, and is bottled at cask strength, which varies from batch to batch. Typically, the average proof is around 115. Penelope’s four-grain approach gives the bourbon a uniquely complex pallet. This is balanced especially by the small presence of rye in this blend.

Penelope Barrel Strength Review

First off, the least important stuff: The bottle is nice. There’s a flower on the bottle, and we here at the Bourbon Dose have reached out to Penelope to figure out exactly what the backstory is on that.

[Update: We just heard from Penelope that these flowers are peonies.]

Nose

Spicy rye and honey hit you right up front, with a touch of oak and vanilla. It’s actually a pretty strong nose, all things considered. A little overpowering, but still delicious. At the end of the nose, there’s vanilla, and a lingering essence of ethanol.
Score: 6.7/10

Palette and Finish

Complex. Carmel-y wheat hits you first, then a huge dose of spicy rye. Penelope Barrel Strength runs around 116 proof, which is pretty strong. Because of this, you get a pretty solid hit of ethanol, subdued by cinnamon and vanilla.
Score: 7.3/10

Value

Bourbon Dose paid $61 for this bottle. Per booz.app, this bottle typically runs around $80-$85 – so this was a steal. Penelope generally is hit or miss on availability, so this is a bottle you might want to grab if you see it. At barrel strength and 116 proof, $61 ain’t bad.
Score: 9.0/10

Bourbon Dose Final Score

We liked this bottle. The nose is complex, the value is excellent, and the flavor is complex. Buy this if you see it for a bargain, but there’s other bottles that we like better.

Final Verdict: 7.7/10.Nice bottle. Nice flavor. Worth buying.

Reviews

Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Review

Leave a comment

Read our review on Four Roses Small Batch Select. This bourbon’s taste, nose, finish, value, and history. Whether you are a beginner or a connoisseur, you will find something to enjoy in this bottle. Four Roses Small Batch Select is a bourbon that deserves a place in your collection and your glass.

Four Roses Small Batch Select Age, Composition, and Proof

  • Mashbill: “E” Blend of 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley and “B” 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
  • Age: 6-7 Years
  • Proof: 104.4
  • Parent Company: Kirkin Brewing

Small Batch Select was introduced to the Four Roses lineup in 2019. This was the first permanent addition to the product line in 12 years, and it showcases the work of the master distiller Brent Elliott. The Small Batch Select is a blend of six of the 10 Four Roses bourbon recipes, aged for at least six years, and bottled at 104 proof. The six recipes are OBSV, OBSK, OBSF, OESV, OESK, and OESF (this is actually kind of intereting, and you can read about Four Roses’ Mashbills here).

The Small Batch Select mashbill recipe consists of 2 mashbills, named “B” and “E”: 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley (E) and 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley (B). The yeast strain of each recipe adds a different character, such as V (delicate fruit), K (slight spice), O (rich fruit), Q (floral essence), or F (herbal notes). Small Batch Select is formulated by combining various elements of the Four Roses Mashbills.

It’s also worth noting that this is a non-chill filtered bourbon, meaning that it retains more of the natural oils and flavors from the barrel.

Four Roses History

Four Roses has a sappy origin story. According to the distillery, Four Roses is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey that has a romantic origin story. According to legend, the founder of Four Roses, Paul Jones Jr., fell in love with a Southern belle and proposed to her. She replied that if she accepted, she would wear a corsage of four roses to the upcoming grand ball. On the night of the ball, Jones saw her wearing the corsage and was overjoyed. He named his bourbon Four Roses as a symbol of his passion for her and his whiskey.

The Four Roses distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, was built in 1910 with Spanish Mission-style architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally owned by J.T.S. Brown and designed by Joseph & Joseph Architects, a firm with a long history of distillery design. The brand was acquired by Seagram in 1943 and became popular in Europe and Asia, but was discontinued as a straight bourbon in the US market until 2002.

Today, Four Roses is actually owned by a Japanese Whiskey Company, Kirkin Brewing. In 2002, Kirin bought Four Roses to help them expand into the Asian whiskey market (which is utterly booming). Four Roses now joins Beam Suntory (more about Jim Beam here) among the ranks of Asian-owned American bourbon brands.

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review:

Nose: Spicy rye hits your nose from the get go. Even though this bourbon is only around 104 proof, you also get a strong hit of alcohol. After rye and alcohol, lots of the customary flavors jump in: Oak, black pepper, licorice.

Score: 8.2/10

Palette & Finish:

As with the nose of this drink, rye hits you up front. Past that, you get oak, vanilla, caramel, and a finish of leather and tobacco. The flavors balance beautifully, and no particular flavor jumps out as overwhelming. Past the finish, you’ll have a good burn of spicy rye and alcohol in this drink as well.

But Four Roses Small batch select is also smooth. Very very smooth. Pleasantly so. This is a great pour for beginners.

Score: 8.9/10

Value:

The MSRP for Four Roses Small Batch Select is $59.98. This is right along the market rate for premium-to-nice bourbons with the proof and age that we’re seeing in this bottle.

For the value, I’d say this bourbon is spot on, and above-average for it’s peers.

Score: 9.0/10

Bourbon Dose Final Score:

Four Roses Small Batch Select is a remarkable bourbon that showcases the craftsmanship and diversity of the Four Roses brand. It is a complex and smooth blend of six different recipes, each with its own character and flavor profile. Whether you are a beginner or a connoisseur, you will find something to enjoy in this bottle. Four Roses Small Batch Select is a bourbon that deserves a place in your collection and your glass.

Final Verdict: 8.7/10 – Get it if you don’t want to drop five grand on Pappy.

Reviews

Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” Bourbon Review

Leave a comment

Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” is a delicious and sophisticated bourbon that would make Booker Noe proud. Read our entire review of Booker’s Bourbon “Mighty Fine Batch.”

Booker’s “Mighty Fine Bourbon” Composition, Age, and Proof:

  • Composition: 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% barley
  • Age: 7 years, 10 Months
  • Proof: 126.6
  • Parent Company: Jim Beam

Booker’s “Mighty Fine” Bourbon is the distillery’s 2023 release, and has the distinction (along with all of Booker’s products) of being a completely uncut and unfiltered bourbon. That means that the bourbon you’re pouring is coming straight from the barrels. At 7 years, 10 months old and coming in at 126.6 proof, Booker’s yields quite a punch, mellowed out by mature aging.

Per the distiller’s notes:

This batch is made up of barrels from seven production dates that were aged in six different warehouses. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” is as follows: 2% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q
3% came from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
8% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse G
10% came from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse I
10% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse H
12% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse G
55% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse 3

While this lengthy recipe probably doesn’t mean much to the average bourbon drinker, the distiller’s notes hint at the precision that went into blending this “Mighty Fine” bourbon.

Booker’s “Mighty Fine Bourbon” Review:

When you get a bottle of Booker’s, the first thing that hits you is the packaging. If you’ve never seen a bottle of Booker’s in the wild, it’s wedged in a dark-finished wooden box, and “protected” by a flimsy clear plastic insert. Unlike the 30th anniversary edition of Booker’s, which was wedged in a box made from reclaimed wood, there is nothing special about the box for your everyday bottle of Booker’s. In fact, we found the company that makes these boxes, and it’s literally a marketing company called “Promo Wood.”

A common trope of Booker’s is that it’s a “$60 bourbon in a $30 box.” You can be the judge of that.

Now for the fun part.

Nose: The color is on the dark side of amber – as is common with bourbons aged for 7-8 years. The nose on Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” is butter, brown sugar, and all things malty. There’s also a hit of clove (and maybe some banana) on the nose, but the sweetness is really the star of the show.

Score: 8.6/10

Palette & Finish:

The palate on Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” hits you with a punch of alcohol (not shocking, considering this is a 126.6 proof pour), and this bourbon goes down smooth. Brown sugar and butterscotch hit you up front (which isn’t shocking considering this pour’s corn pedigree), sweet new oak comes next, and a hit of spicy white pepper lingers to remind you that rye is, indeed, still present.

The finish on Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” is spicy, with white pepper and corriander making themselves known.

Overall, this was an amazing pour, and absolutely something that will make you look good in front of your bourbon-loving father-in-law.

Score: 9.3/10

Value:

At a retail price of $79.99, this bourbon is right in line with what you’d expect to see out of uncut, unfiltered pours. According to booz.app, however, you’ll have a hard time finding this bottle on the secondary market for under $125.99. At $120, this bottle is too expensive, but $79.99, this bottle is just right. Now imagine how much better a value this drink would be if Booker’s got rid of the box.

Score: 8.4/10

Bourbon Dose Final Score:

Booker’s “Mighty Fine Bourbon” is delicious and sophisticated. If you show up to a bourbon-tasting party with this bottle, and you’ll impress your friends without breaking the bank.

Final Verdict: 8.8/10 – Delicious. Can’t wait to see what Booker’s up their sleeves next.

Reviews

Pinhook “Resolve” Flagship Bourbon Review

Leave a comment

Pinhook’s 2023 Flagship bourbon is a delicious and complex everyday sipper that belongs on your shelf. Read the full review – Tasting, palate, finish, info, and Bourbon Dose rating.

Pinhook Flagship Bourbon Mashbill, Age, and Proof:

  • Mashbill: 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% barley
  • Age: 3 years
  • Proof: 101.48

Coming in at 15% rye, Pinhook’s Flagship Bourbon is right on the border of the rye-heavier side of bourbon. It is 3 years old and comes in at 101.48 proof, yielding a decent punch and youthful age.

Distilled under contract at the acclaimed Castle and Key distillery (which was actually built by legendary bourbon pioneer Col. E. H. Taylor), Pinhook is also among the newer bourbon brands (it was founded in 2010).

Pinhook Flagship Bourbon Review:

The bottle is very cool looking, and features an image of a racehorse. It’s sealed up with orange wax, Maker’s Mark-style.

Apparently the Pinhook owners are from Kentucky and really into horses. This particular bottle sports the hourse “Bourbon Resolve“. Nice-looking horse. It looks like Bourbon Resolve won around $85K in cash prizes in 2023, which is good?

Pinhook also owns a horse named “Bourbon Resolution”, which appears about as intuitive as a family that would name both of their kids “Jonathan” and “John.” Bourbon Resolution has earned around $325K over its career, so I guess we all know which horse is the favorite these days.

Now for the nitty gritty.

Nose: The nose on Pinhook’s 2023 Flagship comes on strong with butterscotch, brown sugar, and rye. There’s also a hint of orange peel and clove. It smells very sweet, almost like creme brûlée.

Score: 8.5/10

Palate & Finish:

The palate on Pinhook’s 2023 Flagship is very rye-heavy and oaky. The flavor comes across very strong at first sip… which is something that could be mellowed out with age – but at 3 years, this bourbon is a child. Pinhook’s 2023 Flagship is also a 101-proof bourbon, and definitely succeeds in being strong without overpowering.

The finish is very citrusy, but the oak & rye is harsh and takes away from some of the more subtle flavors in this bourbon.

Overall, this was delightful to drink, and there’s a lot of complexities in this bourbon.

Score: 8.3/10

Value:

At $42.99, this bourbon is on the pricy side for blended pours, HOWEVER it comes in at a robust 101.48 proof. With another year or two of aging, this bottle could have a completely different flavor profile. This is a fantastic pour for easy drinking and introducing some core bourbon flavors.

Score: 8/10

Bourbon Dose Final Score:

Pinhook’s 2023 Flagship is delicious and easy to drink. This bottle would be a great everyday drinker, or as a premium ingredient to add complexity to a cocktail.

All in all, this would be a good bottle to introduce to friends who are new to Pinhook – and definitely brings a unique flavor to the table. I look forward to reviewing move of their lineup in the near future.

Final Verdict: 8.3/10 – Horses are fun. Would buy again.

Reviews

E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Review

Leave a comment

E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof is the king of Buffalo Trace’s famed Mash Bill # 1. It is a classic-tasting bourbon that punctuates its sip with a sky-high proof. It’s a staunt, constant, and confident sip. This bourbon is crafted from hand-selected barrels and is bottled directly from the barrel; uncut and unfiltered at more than 125 proof. The particular release we reviewed came in at a whopping 129.0 proof (64.5% ABV).

Taste Profile

The taste profile of E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof is a rollercoaster of flavor. Once you get past the massive hit of alcohol in this high-proof bourbon, there’s a very flavor of cherry, followed by brown sugar and actually quite noticable vanilla.

Finish

The finish is truly impressive. This fluctuates between the front and back of the palate with sweet delicious baked fruits, oak, caramel, vanilla, and spice. It’s nearly everything you could ever ask for.

Is E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Worth Buying?

Colonel EH Taylor Jr Barrel Proof is a few bucks less, and significantly easier to find, than George T. Stagg, and all things considered, not a terrible buy. We came across this bottle in a bourbon lottery (at MSRP), but for a seconardy price of around $500+, this bourbon is way pricier than it’s worth.

For a better (and more affordable) E.H. Taylor experience, go with the E.H. Taylor Small Batch, which you should be able to find on the secondary market for around $120.