Whiskey
Straight. Mixed. On the rocks. Drink it however you want.
That's the American way.
The Freedom Hub has not been compensated for any reviews for the following spirits.
Please enjoy responsibly.
Jameson 12yr
Irish Whiskey
Original Premier Date 3/17/21
Once again, Jameson steps up to the plate with another superb offering in Jameson 12yr Special Reserve Irish Whiskey. Coming from a distillery synonymous with Irish Whiskey, it was not surprising to me that this was everything I wanted and nothing that I didn't.
Most aged whiskeys usually have something added to their regular process that alters the flavor dramatically. For example, the same friend who turned me on to Redbreast 12yr Irish Whiskey told me that I wouldn't like Redbreast 15yr. One would think that the added aging would just bring more of what you love, but sometimes it's finished differently or the advanced aging brings notes to the surface that are not better when more pronounced.
Jameson 12yr is just classic Jameson that has been aged 4 times longer in used Bourbon barrels and finished in used sherry butts. Call it the "luck of the Irish", but the advanced aging only made it better. Everything I love about the spice, wood, pear, and shortbread cookie notes was amplified and I was greated with a much more mellow whiskey.
Unfortunately, Jameson 12yr is currently not offered by the distillery. My bottle was purchased by my wife to celebrate a promotion that I got in 2017... and it's still 85% full. It's so good that I want it to last forever. That's how much I love this Irish Whiskey, and, if you are ever lucky enough to see a bottle, you will love it too. -KD
Tullamore D.E.W.
Irish Whiskey
Original Premier Date 3/10/21
Founded in 1829 in it's namesake village of Tullamore, Ireland, Tullamore has grown to be one of the larger whiskey distillers in Ireland. What really drew me to review this particular whiskey are the stories surrounding it.
While I've always seen Tullamore on the shelves, I never took a closer look. Upon doing so, I noticed that it's not "Tullamore Dew" at all: it's actually "Tullamore D.E.W." with the letters paying tribute to Master Distiller, Daniel E. Williams. Mr. Williams came to the Tullamore distillery as a 15 year old stable boy and worked his way up to Master Distiller by the age of 25. It was at this moment that he pioneered the idea of bringing the best whiskeys together to create the prefect blend of Irish whiskey.
Grain whiskey brings sweetness. Malt whiskey brings fruity notes. Pot Still whiskey brings spice.
As the distillery has grown over almost two centuries, Tullamore now offers a variety of blends and finishes: ranging from being finished in Caribbean Rum casks to aging in cider barrels. It had also grown a reputation for being a budget Irish whiskey.
I personally found it very thin and lacking the promised "best blend of all whiskeys." Traditional shortbread cookie notes were muted and the sweet and spicy pear was replaced by an almost rubbing- alcohol medicinal flavor.
Better than nothing, sure. But spend a few extra dollars and you'll taste the difference. -KD
Jameson Black Barrel
Irish Whiskey
Original Premier Date 3/3/21
As we know, whiskey gets a great deal of it's taste and all of it's color from the barrels that it's aged in. The barrels undergo temperature and humidity changes that forces the whiskey in and out of the wood. Before the whiskey goes into a bourbon barrel, the inside of the new white oak barrel is blasted with fire to char the wood and brings it back to life. As per law, the barrel cannot be re-used for bourbon, so the used American bourbon barrels are sold to Irish whiskey and Scotch distilleries so that their spirits can catch a taste of that American magic.
Jameson has been perfecting this process for decades if not for centuries. Around Halloween in 2011, Jameson revealed a one-of-a-kind Irish whiskey that brings the best from single grain and pot still whiskeys: Jameson Black Barrel.
Jameson takes the used American bourbon barrels and chars (or double chars) them; which brings new life to the barrel. Unlike any other Irish whiskey, Black Barrel is not golden, but deep bronze in color. Jameson even bottles it in a clear glass bottle to show off it's deeply unique color. Added to the nose of shortbread cookie is a hint of rich fudge and the taste is nutty, spicy, and deeply woody with a rich vanilla that lasts through the finish. It is a tribute to the craftsmanship of American bourbon combined with the perfection of Irish tradition. Like the literal Phoenix rising from the ashes, Jameson Black Barrel breathes a unique and deeply enjoyable life into the world of whiskey. -KD
Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Stories are abundant in the Bourbon Belt. From how the weather affected the barrels aging in the rickhouse to how big the fish were that were caught in the limestone-rich waters, there is a story to be told around every corner.
Larceny's story inspired the brand. In 1873, a US Treasury Agent by the name of John E. Fitzgerald was one of two men trusted with the key to the rickhouse where the barrels undergo their aging process. John would wait until nightfall, enter the rickhouse, and use a whiskey thief to steal whiskey from the best barrels. He would fill a few jugs and take them home in the morning. When it would come time to empty the barrels, some would be very "light" or practically empty and referred to around the distillery as "Fitzgerald Barrels."
What Bourbon could be so good to make a US Treasury Agent break the law? Well, first you have to know what makes this particular Bourbon so different.
Bourbon is typically made up of 51% corn and the rest from barley and rye. Larceny uses a Wheated Mash Bill where they replace the rye with wheat. This results in more complex, more gentle, and fruiter noted Bourbon.
Larceny is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with a wheated mash bill. From the rich color of a shiny new penny, to the smell of fresh baked bread and butterscotch, Larceny delivered a taste of vanilla, sweet cream butter, caramel and honey. Missing the rye component, it all but disappeared in a mixed drink. This is so special and smooth that you will want to drink it straight while enjoying every moment while you contemplate the tale of John E. Fitzgerald and the American Bourbon that turned him from law enforcement officer to criminal. -KD
Redbreast 12yr Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
The name "Redbreast" has been synonymous with Irish Whiskey for over 100 years. It started out being distilled by W&A Gilbey and was distributed by John Jameson & Sons (yes, that Jameson) up until 1985. In 1991, it was brought back by Irish Distillers Limited and has been distilled by the Middleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland since then.
This being the first Irish Whiskey featured by The Freedom Hub, I feel a responsibility to explain what makes Irish Whiskey so unique. First of all, they use a mash of malted and unmalted barley. They then distill the fermented mash in copper pot stills. Finally, it is aged in used American whiskey barrels and often finished in sherry butts (casks).
Being a longtime Jameson loyalist, I had never tried Redbreast 12 until a good friend/bartender (most of my good friends over the years have been bartenders. Don't judge me; I just have good taste in whiskey and friends) recommended it to me. While I still love Jameson as my go-to Irish whiskey, I never pass up an opportunity to get Redbreast if I can help it.
The golden distillate cascades down the inside of the glass with the viscosity of a thin olive oil. It brings to your nose the essence of cinnamon and lighter effervescent fruits like red apple and nectarine. Those notes carry on to the taste and are left with a sweet shortbread cookie finish. This is a prime example of Irish whiskey that I would highly recommend to any American: whether they are a whiskey afficionado or a beginner. -KD
Leadslingers Bourbon
America in a bottle.
Leadslingers Bourbon is a no-frills 80 proof whiskey from the Scissortail Distillery in Moore, Oklahoma. Founded by Brad Premo and seven combat veterans (including my personal hero, Mat Best), Leadslingers is a reflection of the hard-working and fighting spirit that lies in the core of every red blooded American.
From the rifle- carrying eagle on the front label to the American flag on the inside of the back label, Leadslingers doesn't pretend to be something that it's not. This is not the main ingredient in an old fashioned that is garnished with hickory smoke that you can only find at a hipster speakeasy. This is the bottle that they slam down onto the biker bar at 2am and line up the shot glasses from end to end just because Mötley Crüe's "Kickstart My Heart" is playing on the jukebox.
Much more golden in color than most bourbons. Notes of vanilla and allspice hit the nose while an extremely well- balanced vanilla, candied honey, and Oak-y goodness hit the tongue with just enough alcohol burn to ignite the fires of Freedom within.
All that different from Jim and Jack? Not really. Better? Definitely, and at a very similar price point. So why not get a better whiskey for the same money while supporting a veteran- owned company? Enjoy responsibly or safely irresponsibly. It's your right as an American. As the man says, "Freedom is found in cycling." -KD
Aberlour 12yr
Single Malt Highland Scotch
Original Premier Date 2/24/21
Hailing from the Speyside Region of Scotland, Aberlour 12 Year Single Malt Scotch is truly the hallmark of any special occasion. Priced at or around $50, Aberlour 12 is the distillery's entry level spirit.
Upon first sight you see a dark golden whisky that yields flecks of ruby in the light. Breathe it in and you get rich buttery notes, ginger, and cloves. The taste is smooth and mellow starting with buttered spice cake giving way to brown sugar and port wine. This Scotch, and most all from the Speyside Region, are aged in used American whiskey barrels that gives them their signature taste and color, but are also finished in sherry casks where it picks up the sweetness.
The natural sweetness is incorporated into the barrels’ first product, American Bourbon, so they have to be finished in wine or sherry casks to give them their smooth and sweet notes. Be assured, there is a taste of America in every drop that will have you raising your claymore to the heavens and shouting "Freedom!" from the mountain tops. -KD
Buffalo Trace
Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Original Premier Date 2/17/21
From the heart of The Bourbon Belt comes Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Named after the Buffalo Trace area originally surveyed by Daniel Boone outside of Frankfort, the distillery has been in operation since 1858 and is home to other heavyweights of the bourbon industry such as Blanton's, Stagg, and Eagle Rare.
Coming at a manageable price point just above your entry-level well whiskeys, Buffalo Trace first lures you in with its deep amber color brought on entirely from aging in new white oak barrels. As you pull in closer, the sent of vanilla and cherries let's you know that you're in for something special. The 90 proof spirit hits your mouth and reminds you of the proud history of distilling white lightening in the hills of Kentucky, but quickly gives way to brown sugar, vanilla, and rich molasses.
This is a great example of what Kentucky Straight Bourbon should be. I highly recommend it as a straight sipper, or with just a splash of water, ginger ale, or cola. In the end, drink it however you like it. That's the American way.
-KD