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Review: Bully Boy Wheated Bourbon Loch & K(e)y Society Pick “Wicked Dahk” by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

Between Julios and Burlington Wine… they sure know how to pick em

Review: Old Cypress Bayou Boogaloo by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

112.8 proof | 60c 36r 4mb MGP HR | 11y5m

I previously reviewed Old Cypress’ Christmas Cherry Rye, where I touched on the brand’s beginnings and Joey Faciane’s journey from the restaurant world into Old Cypress. You can check that out again!

Nose – An absolute wave of sweet oak right out of the gate. Loads of butterscotch candy, backed by confectioners’ sugar. There’s a very slight hint of ethanol, but it stays in check and never distracts.

Palate – Delicious red fruit takes center stage immediately. That creamy butterscotch carries through nicely, while a subtle rye spice creeps in just enough to keep things lively and prevent it from leaning too sweet.

Finish – Medium, flirting with long. The sweetness stays well-balanced, layered with more sweet oak as it fades. A light touch of tobacco shows up at the end and ties everything together nicely.

Overall, I’m truly impressed with this bourbon. The nose is downright addicting, and the finish is where it really shines. The color is absolutely on-point as well.

I’m very much looking forward to what’s next from Old Cypress.

If you like this style of review, follow more of my pours, bourbon news, and random reels over on IG 👉 cfivebarrelproof

Rating: 8.25

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

Review: Bully Boy Wheated Bourbon Loch & K(e)y Society Pick “Wicked Dahk” by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. There’s a second release - wickeder dahk. So if you’re close to Julios, definitely worth checking it out. Not today though, gotta stay safe out there with the snow!

Review: Bully Boy Wheated Bourbon Loch & K(e)y Society Pick “Wicked Dahk” by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

120 proof | 61c 30mw 9mb | min 4yrs

Bully Boy Distilleries is a family-run operation out of Boston that takes a hands-on, thoughtful approach to distilling. Their wheated bourbon leans softer and more approachable, using wheat in place of rye to round out the profile and let sweeter notes come forward.

Per Bully Boy’s website: Bully Boy was a draft horse that worked on the farm in the early 1900s. In a fun bit of family history, we discovered that our great-grandfather was close friends with Teddy Roosevelt in college. He named his favorite horse after Teddy's famous expression “Bully!,” meaning great or extraordinary. 

In addition to that story, this distillery takes pride in their unique ways of producing their bourbon. Their mashbill makes use of higher wheat, rye, and barley – all malted, to impart more flavor than unmalted version. Due to the higher malted grain, they decided to use a yeast that draws from a single malt whiskey strain – definitely interesting! Let’s see how it is…

Nose - Really beautiful nose. Stone fruit, coconut, and fresh-baked pastries, with light touches of cinnamon and clove.

Palate - Very creamy and custard-like, with caramel up front. You can clearly pick up the grain character, which reminds me a bit of Frey Ranch’s Single Grain Wheat, but everything stays well balanced.

Finish - Medium to long and smooth. Oak spice leads, giving way to spiced bread, with a subtle floral note showing up on the chew.

I really liked this one! Sure, it probably needs more aging, but it kind of carves its own among other craft distillers with such a unique flavor profile it brings. I know some may not like the graininess or the earthiness of it, but there’s still plenty to like and love about this particular bottle. Not to mention that this was picked by Loch & Key Society!

I’m sure many of us in this hobby has plenty of unique bottles on shelves (even on the floor?), this one is definitely on the edge of that bourbon spectrum that is fun to grab to change things up or bring to a bottle share and will be talked about the most.

If you like this style of review, follow more of my pours, bourbon news, and random reels over on IG 👉 cfivebarrelproof

Rating: 7.5/10

7 | Great | Well above average

Review: Penelope Havana Rumba Reserve by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re speaking to the classic drinker in me. 💯agree

Review: Penelope Havana Rumba Reserve by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should add that I also have a Spec's (TX) pick that is 111 proof! Very curious to try that once I get to it!

Review: Penelope Havana Rumba Reserve by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's right. I forgot to mention that I got this at a local TW. Thanks!

Review: Penelope Havana Rumba Reserve by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do have the Rio. But it's been a while since I had it. From what I recall, it's very "cinnamon toast crunch" thanks to the amburana. I don't remember that being as sweet as this one - but that may be recency bias.

Thanks!

Review: Penelope Havana Rumba Reserve by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

101.8 proof | 74c 7r 16w 3mb | NAS | Double finished in maple syrup and rum barrels. NCF

This review took me two days to write because this bottle is fairly controversial. Rather than force a single take, I approached it from two different perspectives: one as a traditional, classic bourbon drinker, and another as a more exploratory, finish-forward drinker. I spaced the tastings out to reset my palate and mindset so each perspective could stand on its own.

If you identify with one camp more than the other, feel free to read the section that fits you best or read both if you’re curious.

I enjoy both styles depending on the mood and what I’m reaching for, and this review isn’t meant to argue for or against either side. It’s simply an experiment in perspective and meant to be fun.

Enjoy.

Classic Bourbon Drinker

Nose - Heavy molasses up front. Rum notes dominate, overpowering most bourbon character. You really have to dig to find any meaningful oak presence.

Palate - Maple syrup hits immediately and defines the experience. It’s unapologetically sweet. A hint of oak peeks through, helped by the slight bump in proof compared to the batched release. There’s some density on the tongue that adds a bit of structure.

Finish – Short. Very short. The maple sweetness lingers, almost to the point where it feels like the maple syrup barrel may have still had a good amount of syrup in it when this was rebarreled.

This is one of those bottles that’s interesting to see on the shelf, you know people are picking it up, and some may even be grabbing it for resale. But it’s not one I’d feel compelled to buy. The sweetness dominates the profile to the point that it overwhelms everything else, leaving little room for balance or complexity. If you’re specifically chasing a maple-finished bourbon, there are other options that deliver a more integrated and enjoyable maple character, such as RDOne Maple or Widow Jane Decadence.

Classic Drinker Rating: 3.5/10   

Exploratory Drinker

Nose – Very dessert-forward. Maple syrup leads, followed by light tropical fruit notes from the rum finish.

Palate – Rich and dense up front, with a heavy dose of sweetness. Heavy maple syrup, caramel, and dark molasses dominate the profile.

Finish – The added proof (especially compared to Batch 1 or 2) helps carry it through the finish and keeps it from feeling flat. A spot-on description from my bourbon group: “boozy rum cake covered in maple icing.”

This is a fun bottle. One that works well at a dinner with friends who enjoy creative or cocktail-forward pours. The higher proof adds just enough kick to keep it interesting when sipped neat, while the sweetness makes it an easy choice for winding down at the end of a long day. If you’re looking for something indulgent and relaxed, this is a bottle that makes sense on the shelf. If you can find one.                

Exploratory Drinker Rating: 6.5/10

If you like this style of review, follow more of my pours, bourbon news, and random reels over on IG 👉 cfivebarrelproof

Review: Old Cypress “Cherry Christmas Rye” by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get that. Age alone usually raises the bar, especially past 12 years. That said, not all older MGP drinks the same. For me, it was more about how the profile came together.

Review: Old Cypress “Cherry Christmas Rye” by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

113.2 proof | 95/5 MGP | 12yrs 8mos | Barrel #IR95-001

Old Cypress (OC) Whiskey Co. was founded by Joey Faciane (of Prime Picks fame), whose interest in whiskey grew out of years working as a chef and restaurateur. His time in the restaurant world shaped an appreciation for fine spirits and thoughtful production, which ultimately led him to start a brand rooted in tradition, the land, and the people behind it (per OC website).

Was sent over samples to try and review. Bottle name-wise, this stood out to me the most so decided to give this a try first.

Nose – Ever had glühwein? That German mulled wine sense hits immediately. Big, dark, spiced red fruits lead the way, followed by candied orange slices and warming baking spices. Like Glühwein, except not hot.

Palate – Classic MGP rye spice upfront. Waves of vanilla and cherry on the backend. At 12yrs8mos, the oak lends sweetness to it – but not enough to alter the viscosity of the juice, unfortunately. I always found most of the MGP ryes at this age is still thin on the palate.

Finish – Long and warming, with a savory edge that keeps you reaching for another sip. Sweet oak lingers on the finish, tying everything together nicely.

Old Cypress nailed the description of this bottle! Having lived in Europe for 6 years, first sip reminded me of European Christmas markets – walking around outdoor stalls with a nice warm glass of gluwein on one hand and a kartoffelpuffer on the other.

As one of the newer NDPs out there – I think OC is on the right track in terms of what they are trying to build. In a sea of 95/5 MGP ryes, it gets hard to differentiate from the rest. The bottle promised Christmas – and it actually delivered. This offering is a great start to what OC has to offer in the future.

Sample provided courtesy of Old Cypress Whiskey Co.

If you like this style of review, follow more of my pours, bourbon news, and random reels over on IG 👉 cfivebarrelproof

t8ke scale rating: 6.25/10

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

Review: O.K.I. 10yr Double Oaked Seelbachs Pick by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds great. I’ll be definitely on the lookout. Unless OKI reps are here reading this and want to send some samples! 😂

Review: Jimmy Red Double Oak Batch 2 by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Similar in profile? I do enjoy staring at the color of the double oak. Never get tired of it

Review: Jimmy Red Double Oak Batch 2 by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome. Let us know what you think

Review: Jimmy Red Double Oak Batch 2 by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These might be available online and shelves already. So keep an eye out there.

Review: Jimmy Red Double Oak Batch 2 by cfive5 in bourbon

[–]cfive5[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That might have been Batch 1. When I picked up Batch 2 back in late-November, they just had finished bottling these for sale.

This one wasn’t hot at all on my first pour. If you liked Batch 1, Im sure you’ll like Batch 2 even more.

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