I guess Malts of Scotland likes to mix it up when it comes to maturing / finishing bourbon, because after the Heaven Hill 2001 Sherry Hogshead and the Heaven Hill 2001 Port Cask Finish from last year, we just got another Heaven Hill distilled in 2001, this time finished in a “Caribbean cask”.

Facts

Nose

At first mainly nutty ice cream and Belgian coffee sweets (coffee filled bonbons), together with hints of brown sugar, toffee, caramel syrup and raisin nut chocolate. Becomes fruitier with red apples and apricots.

Taste

Starts very sour and sulfurous, like burning matchsticks. After those strong notes, burnt brown sugar, caramel and raisins come to the front. Yes, it kinda tastes like a high strength brown rum now.

Finish

Medium and warm with more sulfurous elements, followed by some fruity undertones.

Overall

I’m not sure if it’s the bourbon, the Caribbean Cask or a combination of both, but I personally don’t find this expression very intriguing. It’s a nice relief from your “typical bourbon”, but nothing to write home about. The nose is good, the taste would be nice without the sour and sulfurous notes, but the real deal breaker for me is the very shallow and undefined finish.

Score: good but not exceptional (81 / 100)

This is one of two BenRiachs that were released last year by Malts of Scotland. The other one is a 23 Years Old and was matured in a bourbon barrel. Independent bottlings from BenRiach are a relatively rare species nowadays, so I’m really excited about this one.

Facts

BenRiach 1996 (Malts of Scotland)

Nose

Lots of white fruits. White peach, bananas, pears and pineapple cream. The fruitiness is nicely balanced by honeycombs and hints of vanilla and caramel. There is also something “green” in the background like garden herbs, mint and ivy.

Taste

Creamy and very smooth with a honeyed sweetness. The light fruits are back again in form of grapes, yellow raisins, pineapples and mountain peach. Then a bit spicy and peppery. Caramel makes a short appearance at the end.

Finish

Very long with a dry sweetness and a good deal of oak. Cinnamon, licorice, wood polish, dark chocolate and herbs.

Overall

A very fruity and smooth cask strength single malt. In some ways pretty close to an actual bourbon.

Score: 85 / 100

So where does this bourbon come from? First off, I think it unlikely that it comes also from Heaven Hill, because otherwise MoS could have just printed that on the label, besides the fact that Heavens Hill actual distillery is not in Bardstown but in Louisville. Which brings me directly to my next point: the ‘misspelling’ of the town’s name is most likely a direct hint to the distillery in question.

Facts

Images of Bartstown ‘Main Street of Bartstown’ (MoS)

Nose

Fresh wood, but not necessarily oak. Lots of strawberries followed by more red fruits, most noticeable cherries. Warm caramel, buttered toast and nougat.

Taste

Who put pencil shaves into my fennel tea? Gets more syrupy now. Sugared lemon juice followed by black coffee, tobacco leaves and dark chocolate.

Finish

Medium and drying. Mint combined with fruity hints and ginger.

Overall

The focus here lies more on the spirit, but this is exactly what makes this bourbon so interesting and different from other ones. Definitely for everyone who wants to try out a more ‘naked’ than usual bourbon.

Score: 86 / 100

Facts

Heaven Hill 2001 Port Cask Finish (MoS)

Nose

A pleasant interplay between fruits (blackberries, currants, strawberries and dark cherries) and fresh brownies with caramel sauce. Candied lemon peels. Hints of green herbs and fresh oak.

Taste

Starts pretty spicy but gets sweeter and fruitier after a few seconds. The port cask dominants now. Again red fruits, most noticeable cherries. A bit sour around the edges. Dark chocolate followed by caramel.

Finish

Medium. Sweet and sour at the same time with a bit of oak.

Overall

To answer my initial question: yes, they can! This is obviously not your typical bourbon but a very pleasant change for sure. The nose is a real highlight. Only the finish could use a little more depth and finesse.

Score: 88 / 100

Facts

Heaven Hill 2001 Sherry Hogshead (MoS)

Nose

A lot of sherry aromas at the beginning. Dark cherries and cinnamon. Gets more bourbon-y with the time. Fresh oak, wood polish, vanilla and caramel. Cacao powder. Rum nut chocolate.

Taste

Sweet but also pretty thin on the palate. Gets even sweeter now. Caramel, hints of vanilla, popcorn and wild berries with rock sugar. Followed by cinnamon and licorice.

Finish

Medium and drying. Hints of oak. Menthol followed by burned popcorn.

Overall

Although the sherry hogshead gives this bourbon the ‘little something extra’, its not a marriage in heaven between the two in my opinion. Frankly, the sherry feels more put on than well integrated.

Score: 85 / 100

Whereas today’s bottling is your typical bourbon, the other two releases are quite special: one was fully matured in a sherry hogshead while the other one got a finish in a port cask. I will review those two in the upcoming episodes of American Monday (23rd respectively 30th November). So stay tuned!

Facts

Heaven Hill 2005 (Malts of Scotland)

Nose

Light and fresh. Corn syrup, wood polish and dusty cupboard. Although this bourbon is made out of a low-rye mashbill (like all bourbons from Heaven Hill), the nose isn’t particular sweet. There is only a slight hint of vanilla somewhere in the background. Lemon drops and cherry blossoms. The alcohol isn’t noticeable at all.

Taste

Gets stronger and spicier after a few seconds, but the alcohol strength stays manageable at all times. The vanilla is a bit more pronounced now. Very ripe pears tossed in thick caramel sauce. Charred oak.

Finish

Medium. Wood polish. A bit spicy, gets dryer and creamy then.

Overall

Solid – in the best sense of the word. Although without the ‘oomph’ I am expecting from a single barrel bourbon with that age. Maybe that has something to do with the (relatively speaking) low strength?

Score:  84 / 100