If you missed last week’s entry in this miniseries, you can check it out at the related link below. I’m reviewing the bourbon samples in the bourbon Advent calendar that my brother curated and gave me for my birthday.
Let’s keep going with the next five days’ worth of great bourbon — some familiar to me and some new.
Related: Whiskey Wednesday: My Bourbon Advent Calendar, Part 1
December 6: Johnny Drum
101 proof, blended
Retails ~$45
Six days into the month, and I’m on my fourth consecutive familiar bourbon. It has become a challenge (in a good way) to taste some of my favorites and familiars again for the first time.
Johnny Drum is one of those. I discovered it for the first time when Matt and I went to Kentucky and drank at Frankfort’s House of Commons: A Bourbon Library. It’s a semi-regular in my rotation — with good reason.
It’s one of the most viscous bourbons I’ve ever seen, and I get the typical caramel, apple, and vanilla aromas. When I tasted it neat, the apple notes were strong, and the rye brings a heat that’s somehow both peppery and herbal.
There’s a rowdiness to Johnny Drum when it’s neat, but drinking it on the rocks smooths it out. It’s silkier, and the heat cools somewhat yet remains prominent. Coming back to Johnny Drum reminded me that not every familiar bourbon is a comfort blanket; some are old friends who still know how to surprise you.
Rating: 10/10
December 7: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
90 proof, mash bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
Retails ~$40
After a few days of rediscovering familiar bourbons, I got one I hadn’t tried before. Russell’s Reserve 10 is totally new to me, so I was excited to take it out for a spin.
Sipping it neat, I noticed smooth notes of caramel and toffee, along with the flavor of baking spice that’s warm but not hot. When I tasted it on the rocks, the spice and heat became more prominent, but they don’t interfere with the sweet smoothness.
This is a cozy bourbon that’s perfect for this time of year. It’s complex and rich and worth every drop.
Rating: I’m breaking my rules and giving it an 11/10.
December 8: Twelve 33 Big Six
90 proof, exact mash bill undisclosed
This bourbon falls somewhere in between a new discovery and an old familiar. I tried Twelve 33 Big Six a couple of years ago on a trip to Myrtle Beach but haven’t had it since, so this taste felt like a treat.
The first thing I noticed when tasting it neat was the spice — not the heat straightaway, which came later. The sweetness reminded me a lot of brown sugar, and there’s an underlying note of dried fruit. The heat was peppery.
Drinking it on the rocks made it feel richer and more satisfying. That heat remained prominent on the back end, but it didn’t blow me out. It’s a warm, flavorful craft bourbon that’s worth trying if you can get your hands on it.
Rating: 9/10
December 9: Angel’s Envy Bottled in Bond (Distillery Exclusive)
100 proof, mash bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
Retails ~$60-$80
When I pulled this bottle out of the box and read the little note identifying what was in it, I got excited. This one would definitely be a new experience for me, and it feels like a little gift for bourbon nerds.
This one is smooth and silky with a heat that sits gently on the tip of the tongue. Drinking it neat gave me a vanilla-caramel sweetness with a bit of an undertone of dried fruit and oak.
On the rocks, that sweetness shifts toward honey, and a toasted-biscuit note sneaks in. The finish is steady and satisfying — one of those pours that feels like a treat from start to finish. If I can get my hands on more of this, I’ll do it in a heartbeat.
Rating: A solid 10/10
December 10: Tin Cup
84 proof, mash bill: 64% corn, 32% rye, 4% malted barley
Retails ~$20-$30
A bourbon with a Colorado connection? I’m intrigued. Tin Cup may be bottled in the Rockies, but the spirit itself is pure Indiana — an MGP high-rye bourbon that gets its “Colorado” badge because the bottlers proof it down with Rocky Mountain water.
Neat, it opens with a strong honey-caramel sweetness, backed up by vanilla and a faint evergreen note that gives it a little outdoor character. The high-rye heat shows up quickly, but it’s friendly — more campfire warmth than harsh burn.
Sipping it on the rocks brought out more of a citrusy note and evens out the heat without diminishing the other tasting notes. It was a nice bourbon to taste, and it hit the spot. But a go-to? I’m not so sure.
Rating: 8.5/10
