Freddie Noe’s 2020 edition of Little Book takes a new tack in his evolution as a whiskey maker while honoring the lessons he learned working alongside his father, Fred Noe. This year’s release uses a Rye Whiskey similar to the one used for the 2017 release of Booker’s Rye, a 7-year-old Bourbon, and for something completely different: a Bourbon made using brown rice as the flavoring grain.

The nose has notes of vanilla beans, black cherries, dried flowers, honey, and toasted oak. The taste starts off with brown sugar and honey sweetness balanced by a nice burst of spices that fades to reveal black cherries, vanilla, and a hint of campfire smoke. Adding water opens up a nice fruity character on the palate as well. The finish is long and well-balanced. Excellent! (September, 2020)