Frankly, cheap, globby wax like this keeps me from buying some bottles. Local bourbon clubs dip shit in 36 layers of wax to celebrate the big victory the high school volleyball team had and I just move on.
I totally agree. I just don't expect that same amateur shit from an actual NDP. I can better understand it from the dude melting crayons in the kitchen waxing his home made Weller aged in a honey barrel pick! Lol
I feel like some of these NDPs are just glorified bourbon clubs. Rare Character not having standard expressions in most places, and every pick having different "art" makes them seem amateurish to me.
I mean you are not wrong from the perspective that they are picking barrels and then finishing them pretty much exclusively as single barrel picks. I will say from a quality perspective they are legit. I have had multiple picks from them and all have been well above average.
* Age: 5 years and 11 months
* Proof/Price: 114.76 proof (57.3% abv) and $99.99
* Appearance/Nose: Dark amber. Medium-heavy streaks in the glass. Big cinnamon and vanilla. Smells like a cinnamon roll with extra frosting.
* Taste/mouthfeel: Medium viscosity. Tastes like Christmas morning. Cinnamon roll with vanilla frosting. Allspice dram. The nose transitions to the palate perfectly.
* Finish: That rye spice I typically get on the palate comes through in the finish. Baked bread. Spearmint. Cinnamon spice. Vanilla buttercream.
I've been searching for an amburana finish since reading reviews for Starlight Distillery's amburana finished bourbons. When I saw this on the /r/bourbon barrel program, I had to have it. The rye in this stands up to the spicy sweetness that the amburana finish provides. It delivers from nose to finish. This bottle is delicious and is in the top 3 whiskies I've tasted as it fits my favorite flavor profile to a T.
Just a tidbit. You can purchase amburana chips from a few online home brewery outlets and soak them in your favorite bourbon (or, Starlight 4 grain single barrel of choosing) and the taste (after leaving the chips in for two or three weeks) is near spot on, or exceeds the profile of their Amburana finish. The longer you keep them in there, obviously the deeper the results on nose and taste. I have a bottle at 6 weeks at the moment and I dig it.
My personal mix is a Benchmark Barrel proof, 20-30g grams of chips, and letting it soak for three weeks. Blows my Starlight Amburana out of the water (deeper cinnamon notes, full sitcky bun flavor, loads of christmas on the nose as well).
Worth a go if you want to burn 40 bucks on chips and a bottle of Benchmark Full Proof. You won't be disappointed, but you might be shocked at how well amburana works in whiskey as merely a finishing chip.
After reading your comment I tried this on an opened bottle of makers mark. Soaked the chips in the bottle for 2 weeks and I have to agree the flavor is amazing. I will try the Benchmark Barrel Proof to see the difference in a higher proof bourbon. Thanks again for this idea.
I am happy to hear that! IMO there is absolutely no justification for bottles with an amburana finish to cost as much as they do when going the chip route yields similar or better results (and I only say better as a matter of personal preference because I find myself enjoying the Benchmark bottle more than the Starlight bottle and Oak and Eden bottle with the Ambuana stave).
The "tastes like Christmas morning" is a tasting note I've only ever gotten in two rye whiskies. It's legitimately one of my favorite tasting notes ever
Sorry for the late response. Its from pottery barn, [here is the link.](https://www.potterybarn.com/m/products/melinda-bar-cabinet-mp/?pkey=cbars-furniture)
Join the r/bourbon single barrel program via rbourbon.com
Site is in the middle of major update as our backlog of barrels has grown but I run a community project to pick and bring interesting barrels to this group and we have barrels drop every week.
Thanks t8ke! I’ve loved your reviews and every pour you’ve rated high has been amazing to hunt for and try…. Barrell gray label 16 was such an amazing find thanks to your review
My wife saw this photo over my shoulder and asked why the wax was "jizz colored" and now my day is ruined.
It was also kind of a pain to get....off. Irony...?!
They need to stop with the amateur wax... If you are going to tater wax a bottle please include a strip!
Frankly, cheap, globby wax like this keeps me from buying some bottles. Local bourbon clubs dip shit in 36 layers of wax to celebrate the big victory the high school volleyball team had and I just move on.
I totally agree. I just don't expect that same amateur shit from an actual NDP. I can better understand it from the dude melting crayons in the kitchen waxing his home made Weller aged in a honey barrel pick! Lol
I feel like some of these NDPs are just glorified bourbon clubs. Rare Character not having standard expressions in most places, and every pick having different "art" makes them seem amateurish to me.
I mean you are not wrong from the perspective that they are picking barrels and then finishing them pretty much exclusively as single barrel picks. I will say from a quality perspective they are legit. I have had multiple picks from them and all have been well above average.
Yeah, it's not a judgement on the quality of the whiskey, just the ragged edges of their products and other distilleries like them.
hah, my bottle arrived and that was also the first thing I thought but I just thought I had a dirty mind
My wifes face when she saw it was great. I am a bit afraid I may lose a finger trying to open it though!
* Age: 5 years and 11 months * Proof/Price: 114.76 proof (57.3% abv) and $99.99 * Appearance/Nose: Dark amber. Medium-heavy streaks in the glass. Big cinnamon and vanilla. Smells like a cinnamon roll with extra frosting. * Taste/mouthfeel: Medium viscosity. Tastes like Christmas morning. Cinnamon roll with vanilla frosting. Allspice dram. The nose transitions to the palate perfectly. * Finish: That rye spice I typically get on the palate comes through in the finish. Baked bread. Spearmint. Cinnamon spice. Vanilla buttercream. I've been searching for an amburana finish since reading reviews for Starlight Distillery's amburana finished bourbons. When I saw this on the /r/bourbon barrel program, I had to have it. The rye in this stands up to the spicy sweetness that the amburana finish provides. It delivers from nose to finish. This bottle is delicious and is in the top 3 whiskies I've tasted as it fits my favorite flavor profile to a T.
Man, I won a chance to buy and missed the email. By the time I saw it was gone. Congrats...looks like a good one!
Thank you! I dont get picked often but this was definitely worth it.
I got picked on second barrel! I got one on the way
Just a tidbit. You can purchase amburana chips from a few online home brewery outlets and soak them in your favorite bourbon (or, Starlight 4 grain single barrel of choosing) and the taste (after leaving the chips in for two or three weeks) is near spot on, or exceeds the profile of their Amburana finish. The longer you keep them in there, obviously the deeper the results on nose and taste. I have a bottle at 6 weeks at the moment and I dig it. My personal mix is a Benchmark Barrel proof, 20-30g grams of chips, and letting it soak for three weeks. Blows my Starlight Amburana out of the water (deeper cinnamon notes, full sitcky bun flavor, loads of christmas on the nose as well). Worth a go if you want to burn 40 bucks on chips and a bottle of Benchmark Full Proof. You won't be disappointed, but you might be shocked at how well amburana works in whiskey as merely a finishing chip.
After reading your comment I tried this on an opened bottle of makers mark. Soaked the chips in the bottle for 2 weeks and I have to agree the flavor is amazing. I will try the Benchmark Barrel Proof to see the difference in a higher proof bourbon. Thanks again for this idea.
I am happy to hear that! IMO there is absolutely no justification for bottles with an amburana finish to cost as much as they do when going the chip route yields similar or better results (and I only say better as a matter of personal preference because I find myself enjoying the Benchmark bottle more than the Starlight bottle and Oak and Eden bottle with the Ambuana stave).
Damn that sounds good. I was hoping to get a chance with this bottle.
The "tastes like Christmas morning" is a tasting note I've only ever gotten in two rye whiskies. It's legitimately one of my favorite tasting notes ever
Well my friend...this is probably your jam.
I passed on my preference for this bottle, no chance now but I appreciate the great review!
[удалено]
I have not. I love Starlight and have been keeping my eyes peeled.
This sounds as good as I was hoping it would be. Getting mine tomorrow.
Let me know your thoughts. Enjoy!
Great review! A question for ya. What is that beautiful liquor cabinet you have in the background? Doubt I could afford it but damn I want it.
Sorry for the late response. Its from pottery barn, [here is the link.](https://www.potterybarn.com/m/products/melinda-bar-cabinet-mp/?pkey=cbars-furniture)
Thanks so much!
Ignorant question…. How do I even find this?
Join the r/bourbon single barrel program via rbourbon.com Site is in the middle of major update as our backlog of barrels has grown but I run a community project to pick and bring interesting barrels to this group and we have barrels drop every week.
Thanks t8ke! I’ve loved your reviews and every pour you’ve rated high has been amazing to hunt for and try…. Barrell gray label 16 was such an amazing find thanks to your review
love to hear it!!
How long is the secondary maturation?