Bourbon Reviews, Distillery News and Information
Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve Whiskey Review
Please enjoy our Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve Whiskey Review! Have you heard of William Tarr Distillery? While the current iteration of the distillery is a new kid on the block, their namesake most certainly is not. You see, William Tarr and Thomas J. Megibben purchased the financially troubled Ashland Distillery in 1871. The Ashland Distillery was initially established in 1865, and in 1866 it was the first to obtain a federally registered distillery license in Lexington and was assigned RD 1. So that's pretty cool! The original Ashland Distillery was destroyed by fire, and then rebuilt and reorganized as Wm. Tarr & Company in 1879. Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve 7 Years Aged Whiskey is the first release from this resurrected distillery.
Old Wm Tarr
Manchester Reserve
Kentucky Straight Whiskey
114 Proof
7 Years Aged
Review
Please enjoy our Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve Whiskey Review!
Have you heard of William Tarr Distillery (now RD1 Spritis)? While the current iteration of the distillery is a new kid on the block, their namesake most certainly is not. You see, William Tarr and Thomas J. Megibben purchased the financially troubled Ashland Distillery in 1871. The Ashland Distillery was initially established in 1865, and in 1866 it was the first to obtain a federally registered distillery license in Lexington and was assigned RD 1. So that’s pretty cool! The original Ashland Distillery was destroyed by fire, and then rebuilt and reorganized as Wm. Tarr & Company in 1879. Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve 7 Years Aged Whiskey is the first release from this resurrected distillery.
Tasting Notes
Let’s taste it:
🛌 Rested for 20 minutes in a Glencairn
👉Nose: brown sugar, bubble gum, cherry, baking spices, wintergreen and a hint of spearmint, anise, light burnt caramel, creme brûlée and oak; moderate alcohol
👉Taste: honey, brown sugar, baking spices, anise, sweet rich caramel and toffee
👉Finish: honey and brown sugar sweetness continue into the finish. Mint re-emerges. Some white pepper develops and a peppery burn lingers. Very long finish.
This whiskey is a blend of an 8 year rye (51% rye/37% corn/12% malted barley) and a 7 year old bourbon (75% corn/12% rye/10% malted barley). And by blend, I mean it is 90% rye and 10% bourbon. Since the rye is a Kentucky rye, the rye content is as low as it can be: 51%. So rye flavors are there, but there isn’t a dominating spiciness.
Summary
In the spirit of transparency, Barry Brinegar, the Executive VP & Co-Founder is a friend of mine. I did however buy this bottle myself at retail pricing, so my notes are as they would be for any other whiskey I have purchased; as unbiased as possible. I have tried this bourbon previously on a number of occasions, and to be perfectly honest (sorry Barry), I wasn’t crazy about it initially. However, I have since become a fan, which I guess is evident since I now went out and bought a bottle. The blend works – it’s noticeable that it is mostly rye – but it’s a bourbon drinker’s rye. And at 114 proof, it packs plenty of flavor as well.
Have you tried Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve 7 Years Aged Whiskey? What did you think? Cheers!🥃
We hope you have enjoyed our Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve Whiskey Review!
Would you like to learn about new bourbon? Check out our Heaven Hill Five Brothers Bourbon review!
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us?? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
