| SPIRIT REVIEWS |

PHOTO CREDIT: © STOCK. ADOBE. COM

Bourbon whisky has been booming in recent years, resulting in a plethora of new brands, releases and expressions. Which are worth sampling? As always, that’ s a matter of taste, but these professional reviews can help guide you.

The following notes and ratings come from the most recent judging of the New York International Spirits Competition. Judges for the NYISC are trade professionals— retailers, bartenders, buyers, etc.— who blind taste products based on price tiers. These ratings and reviews recognize spirits that represent both quality and value.

DOUBLE GOLD

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey( Heaven Hill Distillery). Aged minimum six years, bottled at 121 proof, with a deep mahogany color representing its time in the barrel. As a wheated bourbon, it has a warm, baked-bread, buttery nose alongside baked apples. The sweetness lies on the tongue, with hints of pepper as a top layer. Long, warm finish with soft layers of dark sugar and pepper.

Angel’ s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels( Bacardi). The greatly missed master distiller Lincoln Henderson’ s innovation flourishes here, with the finishing of their bourbon for several months in ruby port casks to create a reddish amber color. Oak and sweet ripe fruit come up from the glass. Vanilla sweetness and dried fruit coats the tongue with a long clean finish and a soft layer coating of red wine on top of the wave down your throat.

Elijah Craig B524( Heaven Hill Distillery). Uncut at 130.6 proof, and aged 11 years and two months, giving it a deep amber color with a complex nose of brown sugar, caramel, baking spices and more. You will know it’ s in your mouth, layering it with dark sugar, dried fruit, spices with hints of oakiness mixed in. A long, warm finish with its high proof, combined with oakiness and spice.

Garrison Brothers Cowboy( Garrison Brothers). Unchilled filtered, aged a minimum of six years, and bottled at 140 proof with a dark mahogany color. Dark chocolate and oak is there on the nose. Thick layering in the mouth of brown sugar, dark chocolate and dried fruit. Long dry finish, with the continued presence of oak and hints of leather.

George Dickel Bourbon( George Dickel). This eight year, small-batch bourbon was bottled at 90 proof through a chilled charcoal mellowing process to create a warm golden color. The nose has vanilla, brown sugar and touch of spice. Lies softly on the tongue with fruity notes and vanilla present, with that Dickel“ stony” note that separates it from other bourbons. A moderate finish with hints of spice and mineral feel.

Brother’ s Bond Bourbon Cask Strength Straight Bourbon( Brother’ s Bond). Minimum aged four years, bottled at 115 proof, with a deep, rich amber color with nice long legs when you

18 | FALL 2025 • CHEERS @ HOME WWW. CHEERSONLINEATHOME. COM