Each year in July the River City Whisky Society holds its High Dollar Night. This is the only members only gathering we have throughout the year and we buy five or six expensive bottles for the tasting. This years six expressions have a total MSRP of $3,195. We did manage to find good deals on several of them, but they still represent whiskies that most of us would not buy because of the cost.
This years offerings contain a bourbon, a Tennessee whiskey, a bourbon/rye blend and three scotches. Of the 60 members, we had about 45 in attendance.mostly bourbon drinkers. When the club started, in 2009, we were mostly scotch drinkers. Man, how things change.
Anyway, below is the list of those tasted in order of least favored to most favored, along with a few tasting notes.
Sixth Place: Bowmore – The Vintner’s Trilogy, 2nd Edition, French Oak Barrique, 26 years old. ABV: 48.7%, $499. Bottled in 2017.
- Very woody, Heavy peat, Notes of chocolate, Sweet finish
Fourth Place (Tie): The ImpEx Collection – Springbank, 25 years old. ABV: 47.5%, $799. Only 216 bottles. Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish.
- Vanilla on the nose, Taste of grass, Fruity, Notes of Mango, Long and smooth finish.
Fourth Place (Tie): George Dickel – 17 year old Reserve Tennessee Whisky. ABV: 46%, $250.
- Rum raisin on the nose, Floral on the front, Cherry spice, Rich and leathery, Smooth sherry finish.
Third Place: Barrell Crafts Spirits – Gold Label Bourbon. ABV: 51.1%, $499. Bottle 1,002 of 3,643. Matured for 16 years.
- Fruity nose, Nutty palate, Notes of apple and toasted coconut, Dark chocolate, Medium finish.
Second Place: Bruichladdich Black Art – Edition 11.1, 24 years old. ABV: 44.2%, $649.
- Sweet nose, Creamy texture, Light peat taste, Brown sugar, Great vanilla, Easy finish.
First Place: Barrell Craft Spirits – Gold Label Dovetail, ABV: 70.6, $499.Only 2,523 bottles produced (no bottle number given)
- Enticing nose, Taste of dried fruit, Smooth texture, Perfect finish.
Barrel Craft Spirits is an independent blender and bottler of unique, aged, cask strength sourced whiskey and rum. Their Dovetail expression first appeared in December of 2018 and was a blend of 10 year old whiskey distilled in Indiana, finished in Dunn Vineyards Cabernet barrels and 11 year old bourbon distilled in Tennessee finished in black strap rum casks and LBV Port Pipes. This Gold Label edition uses the finishing and blending as the original but brings in some whiskies that are 25 years old.per their website. This Gold Label Dovetail is well worthy of this years top spot!
Slainte,
Doug