Quite an unsual session this time: five American whiskeys (bourbon but also rye), but exclusively available in Europe (well, Wu Dram Clan and/or Kirsch Import for the most part). There are three undisclosed whiskeys as well as two Willett Family Estate ryes.
Indiana Bourbon 8 yo 2015 (49,2%, Wu Dram Clan ‘The Liquid Crew’ 2024)
Nose: mild coconut with baked apple and rich toffee notes. Then fresh vanilla and a touch of fig syrup. Not a wood monster, good. Cinnamon and quite a lot of marzipan sweetness. Some caramelized corn. Light whiffs of minty freshness.
Mouth: still this refined sweetness, on baked bananas, coconut and hints of oranges. Mid-palate some pepper and mint comes out. A light citrusy edge makes it thinner than I expected. Then almonds and candied fruit, until a grassy element takes over. It gets a tad alcoholic towards the end, but I’m more than happy that it’s lean and not too caramelly.
Finish: medium long, with some (rye) spice and a little more wood, along with cinnamon, almonds and mint.
A balanced bourbon with a fine structure, never bloated or too sweet. One for Scotch drinkers perhaps.
Tennessee Sour Mash 18 yo 2003 (50,8%, Wu Dram Clan & Kirsch Import 2021, cask #12, 156 btl.)
Nose: a lot more typical. More vanilla sweetness, nougat and hazelnut paste, as well as sweet corn. Cherries and honey, hints of maple syrup. Then light orange oil, pecan, gingerbread and baked apple, as well as light cocoa.
Mouth: the age makes it quite spicy, mostly on nutmeg and clove. This is quickly countered with toffee, coffee candy and maple syrup. Hints of sandalwood and caraway seeds. Bittersweet woody notes, with growing nutty notes towards the end.
Finish: long, spicy and nutty, with dark chocolate, honey, pepper and nutmeg.
Very good, this. People who know more about American whiskyey tell me this is George Dickel. Thick, spicy, with heavily toasted wood. Score: 89/100
Tennessee Straight Bourbon 8 yo 2016 (53,2%, Wu Dram Clan ‘The Liquid Crew’ 2024)
Nose: more narrow again, on rye bread, fairly fragrant spice and Seville orange. More citrusy over time, towards marmalade, with some pretty neutral wood. Quite fresh, but slightly limited development.
Mouth: this neutral wood is becoming more plankish now, with a slightly bitter and fragrant edge. Juniper, liquorice and aniseed. Then more Seville oranges, light grassy notes and raw grains. After the others this feels a bit rude.
Finish: medium length, thinner, with peppery notes and this grassy edge.
I’m not really getting this one, it feels so different from the other Tennessee. Score: 80/100
Willett Family Estate Rye 7 yo 2016 (54%, OB 2024, single barrel #2612, 211 btl.)
Nose: a lot of fresh mint, anise and honey, with sweet oak. Rye bread, with citrus and hints of old leather. Light tobacco. Then candied orange peels and very light vanilla. Hints of juniper again, along with some fresh oak shavings.
Mouth: citrusy and decidely gin-like. Hints of bergamot, orange and lime peels, heather, unripe peaches and anise. Minty notes, cardamom seeds, hints of juniper berries and wood (pine) resin. Then mixed fresh herbs and a tart berry note. Almost a soapy edge as well. A kind of rye I didn’t experience before.
Finish: medium length, mixing citrus, pine and ginger.
A peculiar style – I’m not sure which notes originate in the spirit and which come from the wood. Less bold than other ryes, but much more fragrant. An interesting flavour set, no doubt. Score: 86/100
Willett Family Estate Rye 7 yo 2016 (54,7%, OB for Wu Dram & Kirsch Import 2024, single barrel #2611, 207 btl.)
Nose: a twin sister. Mint, soft varnish, hints of rye bread and similar hints of leather. Then more oak shavings, fragrant herbs and bitter orange. To me it seems a tad more wood-driven, with a whiff of vanilla, while 2612 was more on lightly perfumed spice.
Mouth: like the above, but again I’m getting more oak influence here. The fragrant spice, citrus peels, crushed herbs… all here. Also a hit of ginger and cinchona. Then more juniper and cardamom. Similar, just a bit more woody notes.
Finish: citrus, pine and ginger indeed. Slightly more earthy and herbal in the very end.
Very similar to the previous one. This was the first Willett release exclusive to Germany since 2007. It’s spicy and woody, but I’m mostly impressed by the uniquely fragrant elements. Still available in a couple of German shops. Score: 85/100