2022 WLW | GTS | THH

2022 William Larue Weller 124.7°

 

Nose:  Sweet with an immediate thought of coconut (never had that before). Then subtle feelings of traditional sweetness follow – brown sugar, molasses, candied caramel, and pepper. The sweetness seems to fill my chest after a deep whiff. Light elements of a heat profile finish with the sweetness.   

 

Palate:  A more pronounced sweetness than normal with a decent amount of depth and finish - the finish lingers on the tongue as it tingles ever so slightly. A slightly bright yellowish element to the second tasting brings back more of that childhood sweetness – a feeling of days long gone when the sound of the ice cream truck excites you to no end. An immensely pleasant feeling of refinedness follows that reminds you that this is WLW and demands the star-struck feeling that many along the bourbon journey have expressed. More mellowness encompassed with sweet elements finishes the third sip that, makes you want to just settle into a night in front of the fireplace.   

 

Verdict:  In recent years, my love for WLW has waned somewhat… this year feels like it brings back those many things that made all of us fall in love with her.  

 

2022 George T. Stagg 138.7°

 

Nose: A refined, sweetness-ingrained without the spicy heat that one may be familiar with GTS. Would never have guessed this is at 138.7 proof – near hazmat – with the nose along. A subtle element of spice accompanies the back but still maintains the sweetness, not the brown sugar sweetness - more of a fruity sweetness from bees and nectar. Even a glimpse of the morning sunshine over a rose flashed into my mind. Such a lovely enjoyable nose that speaks of elegance and class – but yet settled in front of a log cabin overlooking the mountains.   

 

Palate: Wow… that sweetness on the front in that acts as if it is a finish… going on and on. The mid-palate has some heat that swirls with the sweetness in such a balanced fashion – a dance of flavor and intricacy. The second sip only reinforces the denseness of the midpalate – not as dense as King of Kentucky, but denser than one would expect. The finish goes on, still carrying that depth and sweetness with it, adding on a little more heat for one to play with (e.g., heat manipulation) if one so desires. 

 

Verdict:  Welcome back! Welcome home! Not that it is a way to make an entrance after being gone for a year. If this is the product we get after a one-year hiatus, potentially, it should happen more often. 

 

 

2022 Thomas H. Handy 130.9°

 

Nose: Another sweet nose with a tinge of grassiness – the rye coming through. Hardly any heat… with a calmer sweetness, like sitting and smelling the lake with some sunshine. A little like baking a lemon pie - or that feeling of being in the kitchen where it happens.  

 

Palate:  The grassiness hits the tip with the sweetness to follow – a pronounced sweetness. A holiday sweetness; reminiscent of sweet pine or cranberry candles. The sweetness carries the spice to linger in the back. It reminds me of the 2018 expression; it reminded me of Christmas Morning. The finish goes on – bringing more sweetness with it. 

 

Verdict:  Complex, sweet rye that seems to surprise people who don’t love rye. Very reminiscent of what you expect out of a THH. 

 

Good BTAC year – one of the better ones I can recall in recent memory!