Earlier this year, I was visited by my friend, Alan Carr. His father, Larry, was a volunteer at The Filson Historical Society when I worked there, and we became friends. Every other year, Alan and his family would come to visit his parents at Thanksgiving and we would do a distillery tour. Larry has passed away, but Alan still comes to town to visit his mother, and we get together to taste some Bourbons. Alan was proud to bring this bottle with him last May. It is from the Litchfield Distillery, located near Alan’s home in Connecticut. He brought me a bottle from this distillery on a previous trip and Matt and I reviewed it and liked it quite a bit. This bottle has a five year age statement and is a double-oaked Bourbon. Alan was excited to have me try it, as he really liked this whiskey. Matt and I have tasted it and here are our notes.
Litchfield Double Barreled Bourbon
Proof: 90
Age: Five Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel and vanilla with an elusive fruit note – maybe pears or dates, baking spices and sweet oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla and honey butter with notes of cherry cobbler and sweet oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Vanilla, pears, cinnamon spice and sweet oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the pear is joined by notes of wild berries and the spice becomes a white pepper. Tasted with a pecan and the oak is stronger and the cinnamon is joined by some nutmeg and chocolate notes.
- Matt: Vanilla and caramel with cherries, ginger spice and sweet oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out notes of eating a spicy peanut. The pecan brought out notes of creamy caramel, buttered pecans and vanilla.
Finish:
- Mike: Long with sweet oak wood and spice. The dried cranberry made the finish shorter and the spice became a floral white pepper. The pecan made the finish very long and drier with oak wood and baking spices.
- Matt: Long with oak and lingering caramel. The dried cranberry made the finish very spicy with oak wood and red pepper. The pecan gave the lingering caramel and oak a note of chocolate.
For this fine Bourbon, I think I would reach for a Padron 1964 Anniversary Series cigar. I think the notes of vanilla and earthy tobacco would pair well with the caramel and fruit notes of the Bourbon.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller