Last fall my buddy Tom Spenser and I attended a store pick tasting of 1792, and we sampled three different barrels and picked one for bottling. The bottles are finally at Hokus Pokus! The delay was apparently at the distributor level, which has been severely adversely affected by the opening of a Total Wine in … Continue reading Tasting Notes: 1792 Bottled in Bond Hokus Pokus Store Pick

Really delicious release. Lower proof than other releases at 118 but really enjoyable perhaps because of the lower proof. Seriously sexy long legs on the swirl. Color is a deep amber with mahogany flecks. Nose is heavy caramel and vanilla with roasted nuts. On the palate the vanilla and caramel are complimented by dark fruits … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521

I have been wanting to try a Yellowstone Single Barrel for quite some time, and tried to get my local in touch with my Facebook friend Stephen Beam to try to get a Hokus pick, but no luck so far. However, Hokus Pokus did get in a non-store pick bottle labelled "O' Beautiful Day." This … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Yellowstone Hand Picked Collection-O’ Beautiful Day-Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Stellum Bourbon is the latest project of Joe Beatrice of Barrell Craft Spirits. Like many Barrell bourbon releases, this is a blend of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana bourbons bottled at cask strength, 114.38 proof. However, rather than every batch being different, Stellum is meant to be a consistent product - same flavor profile and proof … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Stellum Bourbon

When I last visited the distillery in February, I got to sample Sugarfield Spirits Bourbon Batch 6 as a work in progress. This batch is made up of ten barrels of MGP bourbon, some low rye and some high rye. The Saltau brothers had pretty much made up their mind to bottle this batch at … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Sugarfield Spirits Bourbon Batch 6

Hokus Pokus picked two more barrels of Maker's Mark Private Select earlier this year, and the first barrel, picked by an all female panel of tasters from Hokus' Lake Charles and Prairieville stores, finally arrived in Alexandria. Maker's has stepped up its private selection game. The Hokus tasters sampled five bourbons that were finished with … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Maker’s Mark Private Select III for Hokus Pokus – Dead Man’s Hand I

I love Calumet Farms 14 year old. It amazes me that Sazerac isn't putting this fine bourbon out itself, which is distilled and aged at the 1792 Barton Distillery. The new 15 year old release is not only a year older but comes in at a higher 105 proof. Still non-chill filtered like the 14 … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Calumet Farms 15 year old Rack Black Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

I have previously written about Oak & Eden. Hokus Pokus decided to do a barrel pick and this one is MGP rye recipe bourbon finished with a French oak spire and bottled at a healthy 116 proof. The color on this is a deep amber with some mahogany in it. I think the oak spire … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Oak & Eden Bourbon & Spire Select Hokus Pokus Barrel Pick

Town Branch is a newer distillery located in Lexington, Kentucky, which is owned by Alltech, a two billion dollar agricultural congolomorate and headed by Irish Entrepreneur Pearse Lyons. Alltech also owns a sister distillery in Dublin, Ireland. I have read that the Irish distillery uses Vendome column stills from America while Town Branch uses pot … Continue reading Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey New Orleans Bourbon Festival Pick

Just shy of seven years old at 125.3 proof. Thin film and legs on the swirl. Color is a deep amber with mahogany flecks. Nose has caramel and caramelized sugar, vanilla, and oak; nosing with my mouth open makes my mouth water. Mouthfeel is medium. The flavors are very classic bourbon; different from most Booker’s … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Booker’s 2021-1 Donohoe’s Batch