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Whiskey Review: Jeffers Creek 6 Year Old Bourbon

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Jeffers Creek Whiskey

I came across Jeffers Creek whiskey after I saw it on sale at Gary’s Wine and Marketplace on Route 23 in NJ for $20. I had stayed away from it the last time I visited because it looked clearly like a cheap knockoff of Old Weller Antique wheat whiskey, but I noticed it had a Gary’s “recommendation” this time around so I figured I’d give it a shot.

So let’s get on to the review.

Specifics

  • Spirit Type: Bourbon
  • Proof: 80
  • Bottled by: King’s Mark Company (Louisville, KY)

Jeffers Creek Bourbon

Appearance

Well let’s start with the obvious: the bottle design is an exact ripoff of Old Weller wheat whiskey. The typeface, label design, shape of the bottle, and even how the top label is centered are all exactly the same.  I wouldn’t be incredibly surprised by this if Jeffers Creek was owned by the same company, but nope: different companies (Weller is Buffalo Trace). Wish I could tell you what the rational here is, but I can’t — if you can, please do drop in the comments (UPDATE: Thanks Mark for the heads up – this whiskey is indeed produced by the same company as Weller as identified by the UPC code!).

The color of the whiskey itself is a yellow tinged amber. When I pour the first drops and move it around in my glass, I’m surprised at how the liquid clings to the walls — syrupy, similar to something like a Makers.

Nose

Lots going on in the nose, but the first thing you notice is the burn that stings if you breath in a little too deeply. Hiding behind the intense fumes is oak and caramel.

Taste

Much like the nose, the first thing you’re likely to get with Jeffers Creek is a bit of gasoline. Behind it there are some pleasant notes of caramel, oak, and corn. After that, we get into more trouble when we get to the…

Finish

Long, sweet, and more than a little burn.

Conclusion

This is no Weller. But this also isn’t an awful whiskey. Sure for $20, I’d easily take an Evan Williams 1783 instead. But this isn’t some watered-down distillery backwash either.  If you’re feeling conflicted about buying it, toss a coin, or save yourself the $$ and bump your price-range up by $20 the next time you shop for a bottle.

Final Grade: C+

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Cigar Review: Rocky Patel 20th Anniversary

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Rakesh “Rocky” Patel sold his Hollywood legal practice in the early 1990s, the dawn of the Cigar Boom, and moved to Honduras to learn the art of cigar production. Patel strove for one simple thing: Perfection. His company, initially dubbed Indian Tabac, was launched in 1995. Twenty years later, Patel and his company (renamed Rocky Patel Premium Cigars in 2002) have not only survived the malaise and inevitable fallout of the Boom (a claim very few can make), they have established a empire that competes with fellow tobacco giants Arturo Fuente and Padròn in the world-wide tobacco world. In accordance with his tradition of creating cigars to commemorate key points in his company’s history, Rocky Patel proudly released a special 20th Anniversary cigar to celebrate 20 years in the industry. Today, I’ll be reviewing the Rosthchild vitola; I’d be lying through my teeth if I said I wasn’t particularly excited about this boxed pressed little beauty!

Form and Substance

  • Vitola: Rothschild
  • Wrapper: Honduran
  • Binder: Trade Secret (Rocky Patel’s website’s words, not mine)
  • Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí, Jalapa) & Honduran (Jamastran)
  • Dimensions: 4 ½” x 50’ Boxed Press
  • Country of Origin: Honduras

Aesthetics, Construction and Feel

The Twentieth Anniversary has a great aesthetic appeal to it, even by Rocky Patel standards. This is an impressive feat that must be noted, given Rocky’s chosen method of making cigars that are aesthetically eye-catching. The stick’s box pressing is nearly perfect; the dark Honduran wrapper looks smooth and sultry, the veins are subtle and the seams are practically invisible, sealed absolutely perfectly with no openings to be seen; the only soft spot I can feel is barely even a soft spot; similarly, the nub boasts a perfectly sealed double cap that shows no breaches once cut. The wrapper is silky smooth to the touch, as well, boasting rich earthy notes. The foot reveals a subtle coffee essence, as well as chocolate. In conclusion, let’s quite stalling and get on with the smoke!

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Smoke and Flavor

First Third: The 20th Anniversary gets right on down to business with a perfect draw that will ultimately last from the first puff to the last. The first finely drawn puffs yield a strong, raw coffee essence, tempered somewhat by an undertone of chocolate. The retrohale is dominated by an even more raw (and therefore more rich) dark wood flavor. The burn is slightly uneven, a slight chink in the armor that sadly persists throughout the first third and into the second, the stick waging an uphill struggle to even itself out. The ash is a very dark grey; though it bends and fractures some, it holds surprisingly well. After the foot is cleared the puffs develop an unusually thick and dark chocolatey texture and aftertaste that coats the palate. Not a bad start!

Second Third: The second third begins on the heals of a slight charcoal undertone entering the background alongside the chocolate. Meanwhile in the foreground, the coffee intensifies the smoke when it metastasizes into a dark wood flavor. The rertrohale’s dark wood is concurrently enhanced by a note of sugar. Halfway through, the burn finally evens out while the ash continues to hold firm. Then, right out of left field, an independent raw coffee note returns to the foreground and vies for control with the dark wood.

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Final Third: Here, after the ash finally falls for the first time, everything comes full circle in a fantastically unique way. The dark wood and raw coffee draw a truce and combine with each other, creating a rich and earthy hybrid note in the foreground. The coffee in the background stays as is, providing support for the foreground. This harmonic convergence of flavors and textures marks the 20th’s final delicious puffs.

The Final Verdict

Now that’s quite a lot going on for such a small stick! Every puff was, in one form or another, a fistful of powerfully rich and earthy essences that constitute both the 20th’s greatest strength and greatest weakness: every puff skirted the line of overpowering the palate, which, when counted with the occasional troubles with the burn, ultimately keeps the 20th from getting an A+ in my view. At the same time, it should also be noted that the draw did not fluctuate even once; as any experienced blender will tell you, this can be a might difficult feat to accomplish. As such, the 20th Anniversary Rothschild not only upholds the Rocky Patel legacy, it takes it to new heights!

Final Grade: A

Total Smoking Time: 01:12:24

Tips for a Perfect Smoke Experience

  • As mentioned, this stick can overpower its smoker at any given moment, always take this little powerhouse with a sugar-enhanced cuff of coffee at your side. Dark chocolate also helps.
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Cigar Review: Hiram and Solomon Cigars Fellowcraft

1 0 5.9k

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Hiram and Solomon aims to honor the tradition, culture, and fraternity of the Freemason brotherhood. The company is headquartered in Tom’s River, New Jersey, while the cigars themselves are rolled in the Dominican Republic. The Fellowcraft is the company’s intermediate outfit, with the Entered Apprentice serving as the novice line, and the Master Mason as the company’s full-bodied brand. Hiram and Solomon Cigars sent in samples for this review.

Blend Specifics:

Cigar: Hiram and Solomon Fellowcraft

Vitola: Gran Toro 6” x 56

Wrapper: Habano 2000

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

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Appearance and Construction: The Fellowcraft has a milk chocolate brown wrapper with very minimal veins, a superfine sandpaper texture and a slight oily sheen. Very well construction with tight, though visible seams, and very dense packing at the foot, and a nicely applied double cap.

Smoke and Flavor Characteristics

Cold Aromas: The wrapper has a cedar and grass mix. The foot gives off fresh cedar and a clean vanilla with just a hint of spice. The cold draw has just the right amount of tension, and presents cedar, a bit of citrus; a salty-oily residue can be felt on the lips with an ever so slight hint of cayenne pepper.

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First Third: Big pepper wash as the first notes start to pop up. A dry cedar and a darker and harder wood make themselves present and hold the core while there’s still a pepper wash on the back of the tongue. Lots of salt and cedar are in the aroma. The draw is nice and just right, providing for ample amounts of creamy smoke. There’s a hint of dried fruit, akin to raisins or dried figs. There’s also a decent amount of leather and sweet tobacco present. The pepper starts to die down quite a bit. The ash is a uniform slate gray and is slightly flaky but holds together as a chunk really well. The burn isn’t razor sharp but performance is just fine. The finish is clean and is somewhat short-lived, with a lingering leather note. The body is medium plus, the flavor is medium to full, and the strength is at medium.

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Second Third: Starting the second third, the ash is holding on strong. The flavor hasn’t changed much since the first, but still very entertaining and flavorful. Leather and cedar still teaming with minor notes of dried fruit, dark wood, and a pepper tingle. The burn gets a little wonky at times but corrects itself without any problems and no need for relights or touch-ups as of yet. The ash finally fell off on its own at 2.25”. The body is still holding at medium plus, flavor at medium to full, though starting to drop toward medium and the strength is at medium. Removing the band comes off really nice and easy.

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Final Third: Into the third, the flavors have dropped significantly and have culminated into a dry wood core with a-muted leather. Dried fruit and salt are practically gone. There still lies a touch of black pepper on the finish. Smoke production is still great with plumes of creamy smoke. This cigar required one touch-up here in the final third. The Fellowcraft finishes at medium plus in body, medium in flavor and medium to full in strength.

Final Thoughts: The Hiram and Solomon Fellowcraft seem to have some difficulties in getting lit right, most likely due to its very oily wrapper. Though once it gets going, it goes pretty well and usually without any other hitches. The flavor profile is dominant in cedar and leather, with minor notes of dried fruit, a darker wood, salt, which is also in the aroma in hefty amounts and black pepper, which shines best on the finish and lingers on the back of the tongue. The ash holds on phenomenally on this cigar, and the cigar itself can be best described as a mid-day smoke. Not quite suitable for after supper, and a bit too strong for an early day / breakfast smoke. This smoke is best savored in sips, though at times it can take a few double puffs to get a good draw. The profile is a steady medium plus in body, a varying medium to full to medium in flavor and a medium to medium to full in strength.

Smoking time was 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Grade: B

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American Legion Toro Review

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It’s one thing to simply buy a cigar for yourself; it’s another thing to buy a cigar for yourself and for a veteran too. Introducing the American Legion line, produced by the Blanco Cigar Company. Produced in the Estelí region of Nicaragua, this line of cigars bears the crest of the organization of the same name. The American Legion was founded in 1919 by veterans of the American Expeditionary Forces after the end of the First World War, an instrument of assistance to American Military Veterans. As such, proceeds from these cigars go to the Legion. The proceeds go to a great cause, but do you, the smoker, get your money’s worth? That’s the question we are here to answer.

Form and Substance

  • Vitola: Toro
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Rosado
  • Binder: Honduran
  • Filler: Nicaraguan Long Leaf
  • Dimensions: 6’ x 52”
  • Country of Origin: Nicaragua, Estelí Region

Aesthetics, Construction and Feel

The American Legion is a handsome stick. Its construction is reminiscent of the battle-hardened men the Legion itself seeks to serve; it’s a tad rough on the exterior (the stems are ragged and the seams are prominent), but a closer look reveals that the stick is incredibly well put together, contrary to its initial appearance. The wrapper has a rugged leathery texture to it with a fresh leathery cold odor to match. There’s even a nice kick of spice on the foot to round it all up. The American Legions have been consistently good with their appearance; in terms of smoke quality, however, they haven’t displayed the same consistency, at least not in my own limited experience. Thus the greatest degree of scrutiny will be directed towards the smoke itself.

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Smoke and Flavor

First Third: Ready, light, puff! An almost perfect draw greets me as I puff up storm clouds with each stroke. Right from the first of these satisfying puffs I experience a spicy sensation on the tongue in conjunction with an initially harsh and crude element of wood combined with charcoal. This is the primary element of the flavor profile throughout the first third. Though initially harsh, the charcoal and wood mature relatively quickly into a richer, more mature form, becoming much more enjoyable.

Second Third: As the first third is cleared and the second third begins, there emerges a potent undertone of sweet sugar in the background. The sugar gradually emerges from the background into the foreground and melds with the wood, the process completed by the second third’s end. The sugar’s spot in the background is then filled in by a cinnamon undertone. The draw, meanwhile, has itself developed to include a rich, oily texture that slightly diminishes the spice to just the right level of power, making every puff all the more pleasurable.

Final Third: The final third is dominated by the gradual emergence of a raisin-like note. It starts in the background, interacting and at one point even combining with the cinnamon, making for a deliciously complex background. The raisin then incrementally makes its way to the foreground, again melding with the charcoal and sweetened wood before eventually overtaking it as the dominant flavor right at the end. It should also be noted that the Legion consistently exudes a whitish/grey ash from the beginning to the end; it flakes slightly on occasion, but it holds for extended periods of time before dropping, and doesn’t bend at angles. This is a sign of improved craftsmanship from what I’ve seen from some of the previous incarnations!

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The Final Verdict

The American Legion definitely earned its badge here; the flavor profile has greatly improved and so has the draw, while remaining consistent on aesthetic appeal. Perhaps the best part of it, however, is that there’s still room for improvement; the initial charcoal and wood was rather harsh, as was the initial spice. All in all, job well done to the Blanco Cigar Company; keep up the good smoke and never lose your ethic of improvement!

Final Grade: A-

 

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Whiskey Review: SLAUGHTER HOUSE AMERICAN WHISKEY

3 10 25.6k

SlaughterHouseBtl

The other evening I picked up some Slaughter House American Whiskey for a choice tasting. For those that may not know Slaughter House is a creation from wine Rock Star Dave Phinney of Orion Swift Cellars fame. This is the man who created “The Prisoner” red blend in 2000 which catapulted his company into legendary status. He went on to form Orion Swift Cellars and sold “The Prisoner” to what is now known as The Prisoner Wine Company. For years Orin Swift has been making sourced wine blends that have garnered high scores and critical acclaim. His combination of high quality sourced grapes, meticulous vinification practices and creative labels have made him one of the more sought after and well respected California wine producers.

Recently Dave made his foray into Whiskey making in which Phinney continues his attention to quality and innovative label design with this recent release. Upon acquiring high level whiskey the spirit spends nine years in American oak and is then finished in Orion Swift Papillion wine barrels. Papillion is a high end Bordeaux blend created by Orion Swift. When bottled a touch of pure water from a natural spring in Phinney ‘s Alexander Valley property is added to enhance its aromatics. The combination of aging, finishing and filtration creates a harmonious whiskey. Here is my review:

Spirit details: Proof 88

Price: $40

Origin: USA

Description: The Slaughter House label dons a butchers meat cleaver with a white backdrop invoking a murderous intention with an old school slasher/movie feel. This seems appropriate for this whiskey as it cuts right through your senses.

Nose: Intense vanilla and baking spice that hits you immediately.

Palate: Honey, marmalade, and vanilla swath the forefront while spice and candied fruit coat the palate. A bit of heat touches the tongue with honey and vanilla rounding it out. An intensely focused spirit yielding just the right amount of spice and sweetness for an American Whiskey.

Finish: Vanilla, spice, butterscotch and toast produce a finish that lingers on.

Conclusion: This is everything you would expect from an American Whiskey. Dave Phinney manages to capture the spice, vanilla and toasty qualities from the American oak while giving the whiskey a weighty mouthfeel from its Bordeaux barrel finishing. While I didn’t feel like I was being hacked with a cleaver, Slaughter House Whiskey oozes with flavors that are a cut above the rest. A solid effort from this wine producer and worth a bottle purchase.

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