Forty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, George A. Dickel was born in a rural town in eastern Tennessee. By 1867, Dickel was an established Nashville merchant but moved his family to the city of Tullahoma (situated in south-central Tennessee), where he purchased the Cascade Hollow Distillery. After working tirelessly at the distillery, Dickel declared that his spirits were of equal quality to the finest scotch, and followed in the Scottish tradition of spelling whisky without an "e". While George A. Dickel Distillery was forced to close its doors as a result of Prohibition, it was rebuilt in 1958 by Master Distiller Ralph Dupps. To ensure the whisky's authenticity, Dupps obtained the original manuscripts in which Dickel detailed his unique recipe and distillation processes. Today, Master Blender and distiller Nicole Austin carries on the tradition of excellence that has made Dickel whisky a symbol of quality for over a century. George Dickel Hand Selected is their private barrel program. The sour-mash whiskey employs the Lincoln County Process, which is a type of charcoal filtering that is typical of Tennessee whiskey. This expression was aged for 9 years, then bottled at 103 proof, making for an exceptionally well-balanced single-barrel whiskey. 

anCnoc is a rather curious whisky. You see, this fine single malt is created using traditional production methods. It's just that we use them to make a refreshingly modern whisky (something that's reflected in our contemporary bottle design and packaging today).

The end result is a lighter-tasting single malt that doesn't compromise on quality.

The second release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2020 Collection is Booker’s® Batch 2020-02 “Boston Batch.” This batch is named after the production site where my father, Booker Noe, first started his distilling career.

The distillery, now renamed the Booker Noe Distillery, is located in the small community of Boston, Ky., and was purchased by the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in the early 1950’s as a second distilling location to increase production capability at the time. Because Boston was removed from the day-to-day of our flagship Clermont, Ky. distillery, Dad was able to experiment with whiskey a bit more and truly master his craft and style as a distiller there. Some may say this is where he found his love of experimentation.

A 12 Year Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Ex-California Cabernet Barrels. Bottled at 45% ABV, Non-Chill Filtered.

High n’ Wicked is an importer and specialty bottler of exceptional whiskies. It was founded in 2019 by two former Brown-Forman senior executives, W. L. Lyons Brown, III and Kevin E. Sachs. Brown and Sachs worked together in the International Division in the 1990’s and were instrumental in building Jack Daniel’s and Southern Comfort in Europe and Asia.

The company features five year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Kentucky Straight Rye available year round. It will also offer unique, small production expressions of each annually, including cask strength, single barrel and double wood finishes. Some will carry greater age as the brands evolve.

High n’ Wicked also offers limited releases of American Bourbon, Single Malt Irish Whiskey and Single Grain Irish Whiskey. These “Singular Limited Releases” feature single barrels and expert double wood finishes that add layers of complexity to already superb distillates. There will be one to two of these annually approximating 1000 nine liter cases.

After serving in World War II as a Radar Bombardier, Elmer T. Lee returned to his home in Kentucky and earned his engineering degree from the University of Kentucky.  He joined the distillery in the late 1940’s as a maintenance engineer.  He first interviewed with Colonel Blanton who famously rejected him by saying, “Son, we’re not hiring any hands today”. Fortunately, Colonel Blanton changed his mind and Elmer T. Lee started working the following week.

His genius for bourbon production propelled his rise from Maintenance Engineer to Plant Engineer, where he was eventually promoted to Plant Superintendent.  From there he earned the shared title of Plant Manager and Master Distiller where he oversaw much of the distillery’s modernization and growth until he retired in 1985.  

After retiring Mr. Lee served as Master Distiller Emeritus and Ambassador for Buffalo Trace Distillery. He was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2002 he received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Whisky Advocate, and again from Whisky Magazine in 2012. In 2013 Elmer passed away, leaving behind a prolific legacy of creativity and exploration that helped shape the Bourbon Industry into what it is today. 

After serving in World War II as a Radar Bombardier, Elmer T. Lee returned to his home in Kentucky and earned his engineering degree from the University of Kentucky.  He joined the distillery in the late 1940’s as a maintenance engineer.  He first interviewed with Colonel Blanton who famously rejected him by saying, “Son, we’re not hiring any hands today”. Fortunately, Colonel Blanton changed his mind and Elmer T. Lee started working the following week.

His genius for bourbon production propelled his rise from Maintenance Engineer to Plant Engineer, where he was eventually promoted to Plant Superintendent.  From there he earned the shared title of Plant Manager and Master Distiller where he oversaw much of the distillery’s modernization and growth until he retired in 1985.  

After retiring Mr. Lee served as Master Distiller Emeritus and Ambassador for Buffalo Trace Distillery. He was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2002 he received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Whisky Advocate, and again from Whisky Magazine in 2012. In 2013 Elmer passed away, leaving behind a prolific legacy of creativity and exploration that helped shape the Bourbon Industry into what it is today. 

Four Super Bowl victories was no ordinary feat, but then Terry Bradshaw was no ordinary player. So, it makes sense that Terry Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is anything but ordinary. Blended from the finest grains and aged in hand selected barrels, the 212 blend is worthy of a nod from a true champion.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Vanilla, Toffee, Banana, Leather, and Campfire Notes

PALATE: Cinnamon, Baking Spices, Vanilla, and Coconut

FINISH: Wood, Vanilla, Butterscotch

Not only one of the world’s best bourbons, Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel is one of the world’s best whiskeys. Created for connoisseurs familiar with cask strength whiskeys, this enormous taste profile reaches depths of flavor found only in the rarest of spirits. On the nose we get notes of dark chocolate, caramel and butter with earthy undertones of walnut and hazelnut.  The palate delivers intrepid notes of warm vanilla, oak, toasted nuts and a rich spiciness with hints of butterscotch or honey.  The high alcohol by volume is intense and powerful yet inviting. The deep and resonate finish on this bourbon is nothing short of legendary. Straight from the barrel is best served neat or with a splash of water. Un-filtered, un-cut, unbelievable. 

Tasting Notes

Nose: Caramel

Palate: Oak and Vanilla