A four year purple top Willett small batch… man, I never thought I’d see the day. This “Family Estate Bottled Small Batch” is a four year product, bottled at 126.6 proof. Not much else to say about this one, so let’s get into it.

Nose : This is… interesting. I do get a touch of ethanol and a bit of a grain forward vibe. This quickly dissipates and presents notes of orchard fruit (green apple?), a touch of citrus, and potentially the slightest sharpie note. Enjoyable overall, but nothing all too special.

Palate : The palate is better than the nose- I get the same orchard fruit and/or green apple note, a bit of lemon-like zest, and a hint of rye spice towards the end of the palate. All in all, not too complex, but for a 4 year product, this is good. Mouthfeel is quite nice and a surprising oiliness is present, given the age statement. Nothing about this is all that impressive, however.

MSRP : ~$60. I’ve seen this anywhere from $59.99 to $80 in stores, and about $115 on secondary.

Score : 5.5

The t8ke Scoring Scale :

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn't consume by choice

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things l'd rather have

5 | Good | Good, just fine

6 | Very Good | A cut above

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Still Austin Monster Mash, 2025. This is a release I about cried over when a work meeting got between me and the drop, but I was at least able to source a 50ml sample!

Here’s some words from Still Austin on this release:

“Inside each bottle lies a mash bill of truly supernatural proportions: 28% malted white corn, 23% white corn, 28% malted wheat, 13% malted rye, and 8% malted barley”.

I believe this is non-age stated, 112 proof, and distilled and aged by Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Nose : Cherry, Grape, Gobstoppers. Decent bit of ethanol but nothing too crazy. Very interesting candy-like nose.

Palate : Oh man. Pie crust, cherry, more grape. Oily as can be but feels like it changes every 5 minutes, just like a gobstopper. Speaking of which, a nice sweet candy like note is here. Finish ramps up with a bit of heat and the smallest touch of spice on the finish. I cannot believe how complex this is for being “aged at least 4 years”.  My god.

MSRP : $120 plus tax, and only available through their online release. This sold out in what looked like 2-3 minutes, tops.

Score : 8.6

The t8ke Scoring Scale :

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn't consume by choice

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things l'd rather have

5 | Good | Good, just fine

6 | Very Good | A cut above

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

When Sazerac Full Proof first came out, everyone lost their minds… the hype has settled down a bit, but what has replaced it truly is nice to see- people are saying that Buffalo Trace actually put out a high quality, shelf stable (sorta) product, at an affordable price. It’s not every day you see that from a company like Buffalo Trace...

I’ve heard things ranging from “good” all the way to “better than this year’s Thomas Handy”… While I may not be fully onboard with the latter, I do intend to find out. This is the same ole Sazerac Rye we all know, but bumped up to 125 proof. Let’s have a pour.

Nose : exactly what you’d expect- all those same notes of citrus, spearmint, rye spice, etc., but turned up to 11. It’s definitely punchy on the nose, but I don’t get a youthful vibe. This is solid.

Palate : Speaking of punchy… so is the sip. I really dig it, though. This has all the same notes as its 90 proof alternative, but it delivers so much more. Citrus, light vanilla, tons of rye spice. Oak is probably here, but this is so citrus and spice forward that you really won’t notice much of it. Those traditional notes come in and mingle for a bit but notes of dill and candied citrus round everything out.

MSRP : ~$40

Score : 6.5. If I made more old fashioneds and/or mixed drinks, this would 100% be my go to. Holds up very well all on its own, too. If value was a part of my score, I’d very likely go higher on this one.

The t8ke Scoring Scale :

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn't consume by choice

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things l'd rather have

5 | Good | Good, just fine

6 | Very Good | A cut above

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Penelope’s American Light Whiskey barrels have been a favorite of mine for quite some time. They keep getting older, proofs keep climbing, and so far- they keep getting better. Today we’re taking a look at a Hazmat 17 year old barrel from the fella’s over at Breaking Bourbon. This is 141 proof, again, 17 years old, and carries a mash-bill of 99% Corn and 1% Malted Barley. I believe the bottle yield from this barrel was only ~70 bottles. 

Nose : Way easier to nose than it should be. Very little ethanol presence after a few minutes of resting in the glen. Notes of Kettle Corn, Brown Sugar, Vanilla frosting. Very sweet on the nose, as have all Penelope American Light Whiskeys have been for me. Dessert-like and very enjoyable, overall.

Palate : Velvety mouthfeel, significant viscosity. There’s a lot going on here, but overall, a very sweet profile. Vanilla frosting with a das of cinnamon, Mild oak presence, some brown sugar, and a bit of creme brulee throughout. The warmth of the sip really takes over, and you do experience a quite hefty “Kenucky Hug” in the chest- welcomed, though. Finish is large and in charge… This is excellent. 

MSRP : ~$140 if I remember right, was released a little while back through Seelbach’s. 

Score : 8.2

The t8ke Scoring Scale :

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn't consume by choice

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things l'd rather have

5 | Good | Good, just fine

6 | Very Good | A cut above

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect