Last Friday I made a trip to Hokus Pokus with an aim toward finding a special bottle for Thanksgiving. I sampled a few in the tasting room, including the latest Old Carter bourbon batches (which were ok but cost more than I wanted to pay) and I tried Red Line’s Experimental Cask Series, which is their wonderful six year old MGP bourbon finished in Vanilla Brandy Casks. I thought this was really great and worth the $100 price tag. After my haircut Wednesday I wandered into a local daiquiri shop, Jack’s, just to see what they had. What they had were bar liters of Buffalo Trace, so I grabbed one since those have been hard to get at Hokus. But they also had Backbone Bourbon’s Anniversary Edition of their Uncut Bourbon, also from MGP, for $85. So, I grabbed it just to see what this was about.

Backbone Bourbon Uncut is a nice 110 proof, and this particular bottle was released in 2022 being sourced from MGP in Indiana. They have been bottling this bourbon for ten years, and this is the anniversary edition. The color is a very solid amber, reflecting that this is probably six years old. Very nice thick film and legs on the swirl. On the nose is very traditional bourbon with some nice vanilla and oak notes. On the palate is a lot of vanilla and some dark fruits, particularly cherries, along with some clove notes in the background. I do have to say this drinks a lot hotter than 110 proof. I have been drinking a lot of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel at 110 proof lately, and while this is a flavorful whiskey, it lacks smoothness. The finish in long and lingering with clove being the dominant note. This is a pretty good bourbon, although Red Line Single Barrel 6 Year Old and Single Barrel Toasted Barrel Finished are at the same price point, and I would recommend Red Line over this. But, it was still pretty good and I am glad I got a bottle to try.

Red Line Single Barrel Experimental Cask Series Finished in Vanilla Brandy Casks – also sourced from MGP in Indiana, Silent Brigade Distillery takes their wonderful six year old cask strength bourbon and finishes it in Vanilla Brandy casks. This particular whiskey is 111 proof. I often seek out an ultra-aged American whiskey or a finished bourbon whiskey to have with dessert and cigars on Thanksgiving, and this totally fits that bill. On the nose is wonderful vanilla and grappa notes, with creme brulee notes. On the swirl, big thick film and legs. On the palate, the creme brulee and heavy duty vanilla notes show up in force; this is really sweet from the vanilla brandy casks. Great mouthfeel. On the finish the vanilla lingers and is met with cinnamon that lingers and lingers. This paired great with banana pudding and a Cohiba Domincano Robusto yesterday afternoon. This is a quintessential dessert whiskey, and I wouldn’t put it past me picking up another one for Christmas Day after the late lunch we have that day.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend and enjoying great whiskey with great food, family, and friends.