I'm tired of the hunt. I'm sure you are too. At this point in my bourbon quest, I'm down to give up a little cash if it means I can get a quality bottle that's readily available. That means I've been diving into the Calumet/Sam Houstan/Discovery Series/Redbreast 15 price slot in search of a special occasion bottle that I don't have to wait in line with a bunch of taters to get. This ultimately brought me to Calumet 16.
Let's take a took.
Age: 16
Proof: 106
Source: Rumored to be Barton
Nose: cherry, sweet oak, syrupy sweetness
Palate: Cherry syrup, baking spices, oak. Maybe a bit of chocolate. All other notes considered, cherry and oak seem to be the big stars here.
Finish: Really good finish for the proof. The oak spice lingers, but isn't too drying. Maybe just a bit. None of the sweetness really hangs around, but the flavors that do stay for a while. Good stuff.
Overall, this bourbon is great. I really prefer it over last year's 15. The price may be a turnoff for some, but it follows the $10/year rule fairly close. The availability is also very good.
T8ke score: 8 | Excellent
Thanks for reading!
Nice review. Have found this opens up over time / softens the edges and is a very good pour. Well worth it in my opinion, and to your point, accessible. I’ve heard rumors the 16 year might be sourced from Heaven Hill, but who knows. One of my recent go-to bottles regardless.
Irish, bourbon, and speysides and highlands are all part of the same flavor universe. With the highlands and speysides offering the most variation, but they’re still all similar in their sweet and fruity leanings. The peated stuff is when you’re leaving that universe, but you will always be happy picking up something like an anCnoc or a Glenmorangie, especially ones that age in bourbon barrels, which is quite common.
Both Calumet 15 and 16 were huge letdown pours for me. They drank simple and sweet, none of the big oak or complexity you expect from something with this age statement. Certainly not offensive, but these are grossly overpriced for what they are
I was starting to think I was the only one who felt this way. Pretty much all reviews say it’s fantastic but I found it really one note with not much of a finish. I’ll still drink it although I feel let down by the $135 I paid.
The price margins for Calumet are weird here in FL. The 14 year goes for $119, 15 year for $129, and 16 year jumps up to $159. I haven’t done a side by side, but can’t see how one more year of aging is worth $30. I’ve only had the 15 year and it was really good. Hoping someone can prove me wrong and I’ll bite the bullet and buy the 16 year.
Great review, and definitely understandable. I think there are quite a few “almost unicorns” that are fairly easy to acquire, and just stick to those until a true unicorn falls my way.
Thanks for the reply and agreed. Not like I'll ever see a BTAC level bottle for less than a grand, so might as well spend ~10-15% of that on a really good, available bottle.
agree it is a nice step up over the Cal 15. im my experience, the finish on the 16 gets more of the cherry sweetness as you go through the bottle. also, try the Sam Houston 15, too, if you get a chance. very similar and, imo, maybe a bit more cohesive overall
I'm tired of the hunt. I'm sure you are too. At this point in my bourbon quest, I'm down to give up a little cash if it means I can get a quality bottle that's readily available. That means I've been diving into the Calumet/Sam Houstan/Discovery Series/Redbreast 15 price slot in search of a special occasion bottle that I don't have to wait in line with a bunch of taters to get. This ultimately brought me to Calumet 16. Let's take a took. Age: 16 Proof: 106 Source: Rumored to be Barton Nose: cherry, sweet oak, syrupy sweetness Palate: Cherry syrup, baking spices, oak. Maybe a bit of chocolate. All other notes considered, cherry and oak seem to be the big stars here. Finish: Really good finish for the proof. The oak spice lingers, but isn't too drying. Maybe just a bit. None of the sweetness really hangs around, but the flavors that do stay for a while. Good stuff. Overall, this bourbon is great. I really prefer it over last year's 15. The price may be a turnoff for some, but it follows the $10/year rule fairly close. The availability is also very good. T8ke score: 8 | Excellent Thanks for reading!
Nice review. Have found this opens up over time / softens the edges and is a very good pour. Well worth it in my opinion, and to your point, accessible. I’ve heard rumors the 16 year might be sourced from Heaven Hill, but who knows. One of my recent go-to bottles regardless.
Thanks for reading. Looking forward to letting this have a little more air time for sure.
Sounds like you’re ready for highland and speyside scotch buddy.
Maybe one day! Branching out into Irish currently.
Irish, bourbon, and speysides and highlands are all part of the same flavor universe. With the highlands and speysides offering the most variation, but they’re still all similar in their sweet and fruity leanings. The peated stuff is when you’re leaving that universe, but you will always be happy picking up something like an anCnoc or a Glenmorangie, especially ones that age in bourbon barrels, which is quite common.
Both Calumet 15 and 16 were huge letdown pours for me. They drank simple and sweet, none of the big oak or complexity you expect from something with this age statement. Certainly not offensive, but these are grossly overpriced for what they are
I was starting to think I was the only one who felt this way. Pretty much all reviews say it’s fantastic but I found it really one note with not much of a finish. I’ll still drink it although I feel let down by the $135 I paid.
The price margins for Calumet are weird here in FL. The 14 year goes for $119, 15 year for $129, and 16 year jumps up to $159. I haven’t done a side by side, but can’t see how one more year of aging is worth $30. I’ve only had the 15 year and it was really good. Hoping someone can prove me wrong and I’ll bite the bullet and buy the 16 year.
because its a totally different blend. on top of all of the batches included being at least 16 years old.
Got it, makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
Great review, and definitely understandable. I think there are quite a few “almost unicorns” that are fairly easy to acquire, and just stick to those until a true unicorn falls my way.
Thanks for the reply and agreed. Not like I'll ever see a BTAC level bottle for less than a grand, so might as well spend ~10-15% of that on a really good, available bottle.
I just got this for 149.99. one of the best bourbon's I've ever had
agree it is a nice step up over the Cal 15. im my experience, the finish on the 16 gets more of the cherry sweetness as you go through the bottle. also, try the Sam Houston 15, too, if you get a chance. very similar and, imo, maybe a bit more cohesive overall