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Keags Bourbon Talk, Rice Lake, WI (2026)

07/21/2023

“Shorty got those apple raspberry donut jeans, barrels with the funk (with the funk)”

Aroma: Apple donuts and Smuckers uncrustables, dipped in raspberry jam. Almost getting that apple brandy note, mixed with that fruity wheat note that 60 has. Just. a Fall Grocery store of smells; You got apple cider, fresh red fruit, cinnamon, spices, and jelly-filled donuts.

Taste: Take apple cider and bite into a jelly roll. That’s exactly what this is. Just another magical blend I did with these Barrel King whiskies 🔥 🔥

06/24/2023

Knighted Batch 55

116 PROOF

Blend - 99% 7yr and 1% and 5 ½ yr Heavy Char 21% MGP Bourbons

Finished in Rare Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Aroma: Pecan Pie Filling, rich almond butter, grilled pineapple, and a little bit of a Christmas Danish Kringle on the nose. It’s got sweet oak, velvety vanilla, and nutmeg notes. Classic descriptions with this ex-rare bourbon finish. A little bit of honey-glazed bacon donuts, following that Kringle note.

Taste: A box of classic pastries; cinnamon donut, glazed honey bun, chocolate eclairs, and raspberry-filled donuts, all in a 1 oz pour. So many pastry qualities, followed by Nesquick chocolate milk, almond butter, and buttery oak. Pastry in a pour.

06/22/2023

Batch 54

6 1/2 year SiB Wheated

114 proof/ 57% ABV

Finally, get to try Barrel Kings' first Wheated offering, and I hear it does not disappoint. Many fun things are coming out from Barrel King, and this is the first of many!

Aroma: Batch 54 is a Gingerbread cookie, followed by caramel nougat and almond candy. There is this funky note that I enjoy with really well-made wheaters. Brandy-soaked cherries, a slight fruity note of strawberry, and a little banana, which is very odd for a wheater. Subtle minerality on the nose.

Taste: I’m getting funky barnyard hay on a hot summer day, like a real Belgian wheat beer would have with the fermentation. Almost getting more of the quad ale aspects of plum, darker fruits, and cherry. Old school salt water taffy I get with those flavors mentioned, the more it develops. Their is a slight peppered venison stew with mushroom and yellow onion flavor on the mid palate. Velvety towards the back and the finish is near a minute long.

Verdict: One of the better wheated products I have had in a very long time. Barrel King, yet again, doing amazing things.

05/25/2023

Batch GD1 or Smokeshow bottle 2

A Griff and Dave pick finished in Stagg Jr and WFE Purple Top Barrels

119 proof
59.5%
Bottle #64

Aroma: The SJ is huge in this whisky. Not only deep cherry flavors are bursting through the glass, but the first 5 minutes opened, I got a whiff of this stroganoff gravy, which is a note I have never gotten from other whiskies before. I’m wondering if the base whisky before finishing was an umami bomb. A mushroom/beef gravy was underneath the cherry. Developing in the glass, GD1 is bursting with grape jelly, cherry pie, and vanilla taffy. The Willett influence plays a role with some strawberry and baking spices. The Stroganoff presence is still here, though, which I enjoy pretty well. A little bit of a sweet bbq note too. Incredible.

Taste: Way different than the aroma. The flavors are bursting with strawberry ice cream that is soft served, classic bourbon flavors that you would see in an excellent BT product like Stagg batch 12 or even GTS 2017 with massive cherry cola vibes. Still, the flavors continue with frosting, cookie dough, and sugar cane. The stroganoff note is not present in the taste, but when you take a sip, you can notice it.

Overall I want to say this is another contender for WOTY and will have to be savored. I can’t wait to pair the ci**rs for GD1. Well done again, Jarrod.

05/24/2023

Cask Strength Rye Whisky
Single barrel finished in PX Sherry
19year old rye, 12-year-old rye, and 21-year-old corn whisky

Aroma: A burst of that lovely sherry, followed by citrus oils, sweet oak, and vanilla. Lovely baking spices followed by apples layered with caramel.

Taste: The PX Sherry balances the whole whisky nicely with Apple cake, a fruit bowl of flavors of grape, orange, and kiwi. The mouthfeel is well-rounded.

Found North is becoming up there with whiskies that you must buy every time a product releases.

05/20/2023

Special blind tonight

Tonight are 3 of the best bottles I have currently in terms of Bourbon

BETA, 2017 George T Stagg (2017) and Sassy Patty

Aroma: First glass, starting left to right, was huge notes of cherry, damp soil, and vast amounts of butterscotch ice cream and strawberry. Oak is there too.

The second glass was a deeply toasted marshmallow, vanilla, and fudge brownie.

The third glass is enormous amounts of cherry, brown sugar, and oak.

Taste: Glass one is just pure heaven. Sweet oak, apple/cherry pie, brown sugar cookie, and damp earth. The finish is long and coats the whole palate, and changes into this strawberry jam mixed with some chocolate pudding.

Glass two is Cocoa Puffs cereal with marshmallows. A fantastic amount of oak and flavors going on that linger on the palate for a long time.

The third glass is a massive burst of cherry cola and chocolate. A hint of rye as well.

Verdict: BETA won by surprise. Sassy was second, and George T Stagg 2017 was third. Sassy was close to winning the whole thing, but BETA is such a well-crafted bourbon. Stagg was outstanding as well. BETA is still king!

05/09/2023

Barrel King Old Road Craft Spirits St. Louis Bourbon Society

You’ll Shoot Your Rye Out!
Christmas of 2022
111 proof
Straight Rye Whisky.

I was very excited to purchase this on-site at Barrel King. If you have not had this rye, don’t miss your shot!

Aroma: Initially, it is wintergreen bubble gum, followed by a long stride of pipe to***co. After a while, it becomes a chocolate candy cane paired with country ham. Developing in the glass, the wintergreen subsides slightly, becoming fresh mint and chocolate chips. Mint ice cream.
Very complex rye.

Taste: Mint chocolate chip ice cream, pipe to***co, country ham, and maple syrup. The more ryes from Barrel King I try, there are many flavors of these umami notes: spring grass, mushroom, and damp soil. Barrel King has some fantastic rye barrels right now, and they will only get better.

I would not let the Bumpus hounds ruin my holiday if this rye existed back in the day!

Jeff Henley and SLBS. Great job!

05/02/2023

Batch 45 - AKA Little Willett Won't Go Home or WWS

Seven-year 21% MGP Bourbon finished in Willett Wheated (purple top and dark bottle), then finished in another Willett Wheated, and then briefly finished in a Stagg Barrel

Aroma: Hot chocolate powder, chocolate peanuts, orange marmalade, and buttered pecan pie. Some tannic oak but gets a lot of Mexican churro and vanilla on the peak aroma.

Taste: As Jarrod would call “dank earth” flavors, but tons of Mexican desserts, churro, tres leches cake, and Mexican fried ice cream, with orange marmalade. The Willett influence and Stagg marriage so well together with the seven year + MGP. Full of flavor!

05/01/2023

Re-Visit
Rocco Hill Farms Batch
117. 2 proof
58.6 %
Bottle 145
Batch USCA

Rocco is the name of a Raccoon that was popular in this team selection and was owned by a member of this selection. Sadly, Rocco passed away.

Aroma: This has opened to cordial chocolate cherry; vanilla is finally coming in after two months. Getting a sugar cane soda note, maybe cherry Dr. Thunder (off-brand DP). Overall, the aroma has gotten way better and has opened up well.

Taste: This whisky now coats mid-palate instead of all up-front and has a long finish—a lovely spice note of star anise and nutmeg, followed by brown sugar. Vanilla is coming out more with some milk chocolate and getting some buttercream ice cream, too, like a Cold Stone buttercream ice cream, with some chocolate chips added. This has improved well over time with air.

Again, give your bottles time to develop flavors. Sometimes I miss out on the full potential (because BK is so fricken good). Let your bottles develop!

04/29/2023

Friday night Flight Night Battle
High West Distillery - A Midwinters Night Dram Act 10 Straight Rye finished in Port V.S. Starlight Distillery - An Indianas Nights Dram, Rye Whisky finished in Port by Mash and Journey.

Aromas: Midnight's Dram has candied prunes, dried fig, and ruby grapefruit. I am getting a white grape note followed by French toast.

The Starlight Dram has darker fruits, and prune is more pronounced. Richer fig, verging on a raisin. Not as complex as Midwinter's Night.

Taste: Midwinters has rich and velvety flavors of wine, ice cream with grapes, dried cherry, and molasses. Indiana's night is much like the aroma. This has darker fruits and a longer-lasting raisin note; not getting the wine aspect as much as I would like, but still very good. The finishes are both unique. Indiana's dram lasts a few seconds longer than Midnight's Winter.

Verdict: I am going to say Midnight's Winter Dram wins this round, for the fact it has a bit more wine flavors and more dessert notes for me.

Thanks, Mike, again! And great job Scott on this pick too!

04/25/2023

Thanks Mike Walling for the samples. Reviews coming soon!

04/17/2023

Circle City
Five-year, 3 Month MGP whisky
Finished in French Oak Syrah Barrels

Aroma: Right up front, vast amounts of raspberry/blueberry parfait, Cream savers strawberry, and a nice piece of oak. French oak vibes with the to***co and cocoa, but the star of the show is the Syrah grape with that giant Blueberry you get from Syrah. Almost like a vintage or Justine Syrah wine I had a while back. A very wine-forward finished whisky.

Taste: Grape HubaBuba gum, blueberry skin, blackberry, and to***co. This whisky has a mouthfeel surrounding the palate with that cocoa and caramel. This whisky also has a little bit of cured meat and a leather note coming in toward the finish.

Verdict: This is one of Drew’s best whiskies to date with the finishing process he did. Drew has told me that this whisky is one of his passion projects because of his love for Syrah wines, and I think he nailed it!

Keags Bourbon Talk

07/21/2023

06/24/2023

06/22/2023

05/25/2023

05/24/2023

05/20/2023

05/09/2023

05/02/2023

05/01/2023

04/29/2023

04/25/2023

04/17/2023

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