Hopefully, we are in for a treat today. We are tasting Calumet Farm’s 16-year-old Single Rack Black Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Citation. It better be good, for that is one long title. The other reason it better be good is that it sells for $160 for the 750ml bottle. This 16-year-old Bourbon is 106 proof, can be found in higher-end liquor stores, and comes in a nice-looking corked bottle.
The bottle also states that it is non-chill filtered. While some distilleries chill filter all their expressions, almost all chill filter Bourbon that is 92 proof or lower. This is because, at lower proofs, sediment and other things can cause the Bourbon to look cloudy. It does not affect the taste, even though some claim it affects the texture. By not doing it, you can sometimes achieve a deeper color.
While we have heard of it, neither of us here at Talking Bourbon have tasted anything from Calumet, so we are looking forward to sampling this 16-year-old drink. Having said that, it is a fine line with these older expressions, we have tasted some 15 year and older Bourbons that have become too musty or too oaky. Let’s see if Calumet gets it right.
NOSE
Matt: I love this very aromatic nose, maybe my favorite of all time. Strong smells of smoke, tobacco, citrus, and cherries. This would be my new cologne if it wouldn’t cause an issue if I got pulled over.
Todd: If you got pulled over, don’t you mean when? I agree, great nose of caramel, tobacco, toast, and cherries up front with a musty wet-wood aroma lurking behind that. Also get just a hint of clove, white cake, and bananas.
TASTE
Matt: A little hot neat but still smooth and enjoyable. The smoke, caramel, and cherries that I got on the nose were also strong on the taste, along with corn, and toffee. Also, get a little bit of almond. Very complex. Ice calms it a bit without much change in the flavor profile.
Todd: Little hot for me neat but very good with just a small cube. Red fruit and oak are the dominant flavors. I also pick up the clove, white cake, and mustiness that I got on the nose. Add to that just a little bit of cedar and grain. Ice softens everything.
FINISH
Matt: Long with smoke, leather, and toast.
Todd: Long with more of that mustiness and oak.
OVERALL
Matt: Very good and pretty complex. I bought this bottle as a reward for meeting a business goal. I would buy it again just to keep it in my collection but feel like it could be just a little less expensive.
Todd: Agree, very good and complex but I am actually not sure if I would pay $160 for it. At that price point, it has to really wow me. And while the nose did, the taste, while good, did not. Maybe I need to try it a few more times. Glad Matt bought the bottle.
Nose 4.75 out of 5
Taste 8.25 out of 10
Finish 4.25 out of 5
Total score 17.25 out of 20 barrels
Well, our first go-around with Calumet was mostly a success. All in all, they got the 16-year-old Bourbon right. It did have a strong wood and smoke aroma and taste, and there was some mustiness, but none of them were overpowering. Calumet 16 Single Rack Black had a super nose and a very good taste, but we feel it should have a little more on the taste side to justify the price. It is complex but not overly so.
Our final verdict, it is a good bottle to have in your collection. It has a good nose, a somewhat complex taste, and a nice finish. but as Matt put it, we just wish it was a little less pricey.