Bourbon

Bourbon Review: Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

We review Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey, a small batch offering of sourced bourbon drawn from a prime spot in an aging warehouse.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Calumet Farm bourbons

Tasting Notes

About:

96.2 proof; mash bill of 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley; non-chill-filtered; Rack No. S3321.07; barreled in March 2006; about $115. Appearance: A mix of reddish dirt and tawny orange. Tiger’s eye and apricot pit.
Appearance:
A mix of reddish dirt and tawny orange. Tiger’s eye and apricot pit.
Nose:
The nose is smooth. What do I mean? I mean there’s nothing hot or alcohol-like on the nose. There’s cherrywood. New shoe leather. Cherry like deep dark meaty cherries. That’s what this is like. Also, a surprise! Oreos. The classic ones. Not double-stuff. Not Hydrox, or Newman-Os.
Palate:
Dang, this is nice. The cherry carries through, as does the smoothness. No burn. A mouthfeel that is just right: neither too light nor too gluey thick. It doesn’t taste of alcohol, although it has a slight kick of rye and cinnamon on the finish. That’s what makes it interesting. There is ginger, too—spice, not heat. I like it when whiskies start one way and finish another. They don’t all do that. This one does. For $115 or thereabouts, maybe it should? Still, I think it’s worth it.We all need a splurge, sometimes.
Finish:
Comments:
The word that comes to mind is “skilled.” Picking the horse theme back up: This whiskey has got legs. It can go the distance. This was barreled in March 2006 and it shows. All that time did great things for this whiskey. Thumbs up, drink up (responsibly, of course).

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Carin Moonin

Carin Moonin swapped a 5th-floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ, for a house in SE Portland a decade ago and hasn't looked back. She appreciates Portland's vibrant whiskey scene, finding it complements both the weather and her mood. Carin enjoys exploring the diverse world of brown liquor and its many facets. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and others. When she's not indulging in whiskey or writing about it, you can find Carin running, reading, or on the hunt for free samples in grocery stores.

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