Availability:
Unaged / White Whiskey
- Buffalo Trace White Dog Mash #1 New Make Spirit (375ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 62.5%
The birth of the World’s greatest Bourbons – Buffalo Trace release the hounds.
The New Make Spirit keeps coming. One of the newest retail categories to emerge in the whisky world has added a Bourbon experience for the true connoisseurs. Buffalo Trace, renowned for the production of the world’s finest Bourbon and Rye Whiskies, has taken it back to basics with the release of White Dog Mash #1. We have seen excellent New Make Spirits in the Malt world, Peter Bignall’s awesome Belgrove Rye New Make, and a series of “Blanche” releases from the French out of Armangac and Calvados. Now Bourbon enthusiasts can complete their education with this latest release from Buffalo Trace.Buffalo trace White Dog Mash #1 is made from the low Rye mash bill used for George T Stagg, Eagle rare and Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon.
Unaged whiskies, alternately referred to as moonshine, white dog, white whiskies and, more officially, New Make, provide an unparalleled insight into the construction of the finished product. They display the esters and unadulterated characters that will (or sometimes not) mesh with the primary flavour contribution to an aged spirit – the barrel it is aged in – and afford an insight into Whiskey previously only available to industry professionals. ![1026948_1.jpg]()
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Few White Whiskey (750ml)Evanston, Illinois, UNITED STATES$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenABV: 40%Paul Hletko, who launched 'Few Spirits' in 2011 is a man in pursuit of flavour. Hence, his new micro distillery is perhaps best defined by what it doesn't make - vodka.
"It's the opposite of what I want my spirits to be," says Hletko. "Few Spirits is about quality and flavor, and enjoying a drink. Taking the flavour out of the grain by distilling it into vodka is the opposite of what we want."
Hletko's new make is a case in point. He adds, "White whiskey has been much hated in the past because it’s either very poorly made and it’s full of distillate by-products, or it’s simple verticals of stuff that’s supposed to be treated differently,” Hletko prides his white whiskey on being “very, very clean” and has a bourbon and rye currently maturing.
Tasting notes: Flawless crystal clear appearance. A lifted aroma includes grain and toasted olive bread like notes along side hints of fruit (apple and citrus peel). Typical new make complexity. A light, clean entry continues through to a delicately spiced, lightish profile with subtle flavours of lemon meringue and white pepper on the finish. Concludes very dry with a slightly chalky mouthfeel and pleasing warmth. Nicely done. 40% Alc./Vol.
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Koval Bierbrand Grain Spirit (375ml)Chicago, Illinois, UNITED STATES$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 40%A classic German spirit, bierbrand has all but been forgotten in the United States until recently. Made using Koval's neighbors’ Dynamo Copper Lager (Metropolitan Brewery), this is a terrific take on traditional beer schnapps. Tasting note: Crystal clear with pruney, yeasty opening scents followed by fresh sour dough fruit bread, hints of green olive and candle wax following through with a vibrant, silky and pure, prune, beeswax and bread-like profile. Concludes very dry with subtle prune flavours repeating in the aftertaste. 38% Alc./Vol.![54663433443444_1.jpg]()
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- Reduced
Koval White Rye Whiskey (750ml)Chicago, Illinois, UNITED STATESReduced from $120.00$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%Made from 100% organic Rye, some have compared the flavour of this to aquavit. The producers note that the style is a traditional American spirit. George Washington made it in his distillery, and it was common in the New World before the rise of bourbon after the Whiskey Rebellion. Barely touching the barrel before being bottled, this is intended as the 'true essence' of rye without being overshadowed by oak. Tasting note: Crystal clear. The atypical rye bouquet is slightly soapy and sweet herb-like in the initial pass, building with unexpected and delightful scents of liquorice bullets / chico lollies which continue into the later stages, with some grainy notes also sneaking in. Silky, creamy entry follows through to a fairly broad, semi sweet, pure profile featuring old liquorice strap and ryvita biscuit flavours persisting with moderate length. A nice addition to the range. 40% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... Mineral water clear and clean. Opening nose is snappy, grainy, and almost like baked fruit as there is a nuance of charred sweetness underneath the grain intensity; bouquet turns semisweet with aeration and roasted; me like. Entry is fruity, fulfilling the nose impressions, and gently sweet; midpalate highlights the grainy sweetness more than the fruit aspect. Longer than expected finish. 3 Stars. Recommended - March 2014, www.spiritjournal.com![147258369222_1.jpg]()
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Slow Hand Organic White Whiskey (750ml)California, UNITED STATES$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 40%Unlike white dog, which is meant for aging but released early, or moonshine, which is a rough and sweet corn liquor, Greenbar, the creator of the world's largest collection of organic spirits and liqueurs have produced 'Slow Hand' from the ground up. They add, "It’s how distillers first made whiskey in America and we consider this the rightful grain equivalent of silver tequila, white rum and pisco. Tasting note: Produced from oats, malt and spelt. Brilliant glossy, rainwater clear appearance. Penetrating opening sniff issues a soft nose prickle and exhudes fleeting scents of furniture polish and sour dough olive bread, eclipsed by more engaging notes of spicy dried fruits, unripe banana and breakfast cereal. Final pass sees the aroma turn mildly waxy and more banana confectionary-like. Lovely, light, silky profile is nicely poised, mildly estery yet dry to finish warming, intense, vibrantly spicy and long. Subtle ripe banana aftertaste. Intriguing white spirit with plenty of personality. 40% Alc./Vol.
