Blue Note Juke Joint Uncut

This is a hand-selected single barrel pick from a liquor store in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It clings quite closely to the glass, showing only a few slowly appearing legs. The aroma is a bit hot, presenting a lot of rye and considerable barrel influence for something with a 3-year age statement. Notes of crème brûlée, green apple, flaked barley or rye from the bulk bins at the feed store, and a faint hint of eucalyptus emerge through abundant fresh-cut white oak. The front is initially sweet, but the heat builds rapidly, moving to the barrel and rye spice. The early part of the finish is almost bitter and woody before fading with caramel, vanilla, clove, and cacao. It feels smooth on the palate, though a little thin. The mouthfeel and finish improve noticeably with a bit of water... It reveals more sweetness and extends the taste. At $40, I can't be disappointed with this at all. It offers excellent value. That said, it's young, and that's definitely apparent... however, they are doing something right, and I'm keen to see what they do next. I will certainly try it in an Old Fashioned.

SPEC’s SINGLE BARREL // Proof - 123.3 // ABV - 61.65% // Barrel No. - 17571 NEAT NOSE - Gentle on the nose, yet distinct notes of caramel, vanilla, and honey. PALATE - I’ve consumed bourbons with higher proof, and this one doesn’t drink below its stated proof like some others, but that’s not a negative. It offers a rich and oily mouthfeel, with the honey, caramel, and vanilla notes from the nose carrying through. FINISH - Medium to long. Intense and spicy. BUY? - Definitely. This is a fantastic value for under $50. BUY AGAIN?? - Without question. This will likely be a regular pour for me. Furthermore, the ease of finding single barrels and store picks of this bourbon at very reasonable and affordable prices is remarkable in today’s market. You can sample it, and if it doesn’t suit your taste, you won’t regret the cost as it was around $45. However, I doubt you’ll find nothing to appreciate about this drink. Revisiting this one, I prefer it without ice.

Blue Note Juke Joint Whiskey Single Barrel Uncut (Greens Farms Spirits) "Blue Steel" Barrel #17970, 62.05% ABV Proof: 124.1, no age statement. Served in a Glencairn glass, rested for 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Sweet caramel with apple, apricot, and raisin. Palate: Clove and baking spice on the initial taste, followed by oak tannins at the back. Finish: Medium duration with moderate heat. With a splash: The sweetness from the nose reappears, mingling with the clove. Overall: 8.5/10 - This drinks smoother than its proof suggests, but it has a bit more spice on the palate than I prefer. A few drops of water mellow it out. A good value for under $50.

A1 Wine & Spirits Store Pick Barrel # 17510 120.7 Proof Initial notes of light vanilla and caramel quickly transition to a strong woody aroma (reminiscent of a lumberyard) and some non-peanut nuttiness. Perhaps a hint of walnut. It has a grainy character. The flavor begins with sweet honey and a touch of caramel. It soon gives way to heat and spice, with cinnamon and hot clove creating a significant tingle on the mid-palate. The finish lingers with oak and some walnut at the back. The finish is drying. The oak notes are reminiscent of aged lumber, not freshly cut, along with walnut.

Bottled at over 62% ABV. I believe this originates from Barton, bottled in Memphis. On the nose, I detect vanilla and green apple. Surprisingly, there isn't a lot of ethanol in the aroma, considering I believe it's only a 3-4 year old bourbon. The palate has buttery caramel and the apple notes are present as well. There's a little warmth as it goes down, but it drinks as if it were lower proof. It's young and not particularly complex, but definitely not bad for only $42. Between this and the Riverset Rye barrel pick, I prefer the Rye.

This single barrel store selection had me unsure of what to anticipate, beyond friends mentioning it was noteworthy. It turns out to be noteworthy in a pleasant way if you enjoy very smooth, buttery vanilla and caramel notes! The aroma is vanilla with a faint hint of banana. After being open for a few days, the distinct caramel and vanilla flavors emerge. Surprisingly, there's only a touch of wood at the finish, along with warmth but no alcoholic burn. I grabbed another bottle before they run out.