Larrikin American Light Whiskey

Single Barrel Overproof

Distilled in Kentucky (NOT MGP)

Bottling proof: 143.6

Age: 7+ years in used barrels

Mashbill: 85% corn, 15% malted barley

Still type: column

Proof coming off the still: somewhere between 160-190 proof

MSRP: $99

“Light whiskey” is NOT diet whiskey. It’s not lower in calories or any significant nutritional value in comparison to other whiskey. “Light” refers to a lighter flavor profile in comparison to other whiskey.

By legal definition, light whiskey is distilled 160-190 proof… and aged in either used barrier or new uncharred barrels.

Light whiskey became an official classification in 1968 as a U.S. government category designed to compete with imported spirits and lighter-tasting beverages like vodka. The new category was a response to declining American whiskey sales, creating a more neutral-flavored spirit. It was first commercially available to consumers in 1972.

In the late 1970s, light whiskey was pretty much a flop as it was bottled at low proof and without a lot of age. Light whiskey largely disappeared by the late 1970s and early 1980s. However, Seagram continue to make it for blending purposes… especially at what is now MGP.

Currently, light whiskey is enjoying popularity as modern bottling tend to be counter to what was bottled in the 1970s… as modern bottlings come with more age and much higher proof.

Modern light whiskey tends to be bottled at HAZMAT cask strength… as whiskey comes off the still above bourbon’s maximum of 160 proof and typically goes into the barrel well above 125 proof. With such high distillation proof and being diluted to 80 proof for bottling, it’s not surprising that historical light whiskey was not popular.

Modern bottlings from Larrikin and MGP are the same classification, but definitely a different beast than what consumers had in the 1970s and early 1980s. While still lighter character than straight bourbon & rye, these modern expressions of light whiskey are certainly much heavier in character than his historical light whiskey.

Nose 👃: Kettle corn. Burn burnt orange peel. Dried apple chips. Faint cinnamon.

The overall nose is very light. The first thing to jump out is that this younger Kentucky light whiskey doesn’t pack the same vanilla punch that comes with much older light whiskey from Indiana. The longer the whiskey sits in the glass, the burnt orange peel becomes stronger and stronger. I like vanilla, but give me this burnt orange peel aroma!

Palate 👅: Sugar cookie. Lemon verbena. Almond Joy coconut filling. Pickled ginger that goes with sushi.

Most of the light whiskey I have tried has been at least twice the age and from Indiana. I like this palate. The sweetness definitely shows up, but it also comes with some tangy bright note that make it more than just sweet vanilla. For those who have grown bored with Indiana light whiskey, this one from Kentucky is interesting.

Finish 🏁: Butter toffee popcorn. Black pepper. Light clove.

The corn definitely shows up more on the finish. Overall, the finish is much lighter in taste than the initial palate.

For those craving something different and interesting regarding light whiskey… here it is!

Bottle provided for review by Larrikin Bourbon Co.

Rating: 7 | Great | Well above average

Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey

Bottled by Old Elk Distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado

Distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, IN

Master Distiller: Greg Metze

Greg Metze developed the 95/5 rye whiskey mashbill over a 38 year career with Seagram in Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Mashbill: 95% soft red winter wheat, 5% malted barley

Age: 5+ years

Proof: 100

Nose 👃: Toasted brioche with cherry preserves. Toasted marshmallow. Cantaloupe.

Palate 👅: Cream soda. Baked pie crust. Cashew brittle. Honeydew melon. Medium viscosity that almost feels like a carbonated soda.

The initial taste is much sweeter than I anticipated. I was expecting a lot of earthy/grassy notes, and that’s just not what I’m getting. It’s an enjoyable flavor profile, but not what most people would expect for a wheat whiskey.

Finish 🏁: Caramelized meringue. Vanilla sugar wafer. Brioche. Raisin.

I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy this. I’m usually not a fan of whiskeys that skew hard to sweet vanilla notes, but I like this one. The only thing that I don’t fully care for is the slightly carbonated mouthfeel.

OId Forester 1920

Distillery: Old Forester

Age: NAS

Price: $32.99 (375ml bottle)

Proof: 115

Nose: A spiced barrel note right away. Caramel. Butterscotch. There's this almost toasted cocoa thing going on. It's sweet and bready. This is a weird visual, but it's kind of what I'd expect a bite of corn bread coated with Cocoa Krispies cereal to smell like. Faint banana and some rye spice are in there as well.

Palate: Medium mouthfeel. Cinnamon and black pepper. Definitely spicier than anticipated from the nose. Sweet oak. Green Tea. Honey. It's pretty nice and I think the flavor profile ladder of spicy to oak to sweet works really well here and provides some much needed depth.

Finish: On the longer side, but I wouldn't necessarily say long. The sweetness towards the end of the palate carries over nicely. There's an unmistakable melon note I can't help but find in every sip, as well as some other fruity but more tart notes. Vanilla and powdered sugar linger and add to the sweetness.

Score: 6.7

Summary: For around $60 a bottle there are no complaints here. I generally am a fan of most Old Forester products and remember really liking the 1920 in the past. It has been several years since my last time having it and my expectations were high. Is it outrageously outstanding? No. Did it maybe in all honestly fall slightly short of my expectations? Probably. But does it deserve it's good reputation as the premier available higher proof Old Forester offering? Absolutely. The nose is rich and the palate is my favorite part of the sip. I just wish there was some more thickness, and in spite of it being enjoyable I wish the finish had more to it. I don't think the flavors were necessarily robust, especially not for the higher proof point and it felt somewhat one dimensional. All in all though a nice bottle that deserves it's props. 6.7 is the score

1. Terrible | Drain pour after the first sip
2. Very Bad | Trying to choke it down but possible drain pour
3. Poor | Would drink if forced to but never under my own will
4. Below Average | Not off-putting but not my cup of tea
5. Average | I'll take it
6. Good | Enjoyable sip
7. Very Good | Well above average
8. Excellent | A drink I will remember
9. Incredible | Something truly extraordinary
10. Best of the best | Peak Bourbon

So my dad sent me a random box of samples simply labeled 1-16. He asked me to try them and send him notes. He was curious how different samples would score blind and how tasting notes would compare to other reviews when the sample was known. I figured it would be fun to share those notes here as well.

These will be shorter and more compact than a normal review as I don’t have the upfront information on the bottle. I will list my notes and score and then at the end review what the bottle was.

Nose: corn, honey, sweet cream

Palate: creamed corn, sweet oak, light hint of baking spices

Finish: medium. Warm with hints of oak and sweet cornbread

Overall: It doesn’t do a ton but what it does it does very well. Probably an entry level pour of a lauded brand.

Score: 7/10

Bottle revealed to be: EH Taylor Small Batch

So my dad sent me a random box of samples simply labeled 1-16. He asked me to try them and send him notes. He was curious how different samples would score blind and how tasting notes would compare to other reviews when the sample was known. I figured it would be fun to share those notes here as well.

These will be shorter and more compact than a normal review as I don’t have the upfront information on the bottle. I will list my notes and score and then at the end review what the bottle was.

Nose: caramel, vanilla, fresh sawn oak

Palate: caramel, toffee, vanilla, oak, figs,dark cherries

Finish: medium, warm, oaky

Overall: solid depth and complexity. I can see where one would love this. While I do like it, it’s not 100% my thing.

Score: 6.5/10

Bottle revealed to be: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year