Tastes

Once this has some time to open up, it’s unreal. Nose: The predominant note here is stewed strawberry, with a slight raspberry note and a nice deep molasses. Following that is a cinnamon sugar, toffee, and charred pie crust that is finished off a subtle vanilla. Palate: The front of the palate is all sweet and sugary. That toffee/caramel note is the first note I pick up, then a pop of strawberry jam and baking spice. Mid palate has a beautiful white chocolate raspberry sugar cookie note and then there’s a healthy barrel char that comes across as that barely burnt pie crust flavor. Finish: The finish is long and lingering, made up of charred oak, sweet caramel and subtle fruitiness that is very nice. This is a beautiful example of a well aged bourbon. The oakiness and char is perfectly balanced with the fruity and sugary notes. A beautiful bourbon to say the least. Final Score: 9.4/10

My bottle is a Master Distiller’s Select Nose: A deep banana cream pie jumps out of the glass and is followed by nilla wafer, caramel, chocolate covered marshmallows, and a hint of cherry and sweet cinnamon spice. Palate: The front of the palate is one in the same of the nose. I get unripe banana, shortbread cookie, vanilla crème, and browned butter. The sweetness is followed by a nice baking spice, a more pronounced cherry than found on the nose, and a very nice chocolate covered marshmallow/pretzel note that reminds me of modjeskas. It’s not thin but it’s not as viscous as I would hope for. Very deserty bourbon and I enjoy it very much. Finish: The finish is light, with not much oak presence and is just a soft fade of the flavors listed above. This is probably the biggest area that needs improvement for the whiskey. Final Rating: 8.6/10

Nose: Nose is quite nice. Very sweet and sugary to start. Upfront I get sweet red grapes, caramel syrup, and strong vanilla. Digging a bit deeper there’s a subtle red apple note, very light black pepper, and subtle oak char. Overall, the nose is fruity and pleasant. Palate: On the front of the palate, the grape note from the nose dominates. Crush grape soda, powdered sugar, and a bit of cherry. Mid-palate is kind of flat, I’m really not picking up much other than a little bit of peppery spice, vanilla, and a soft oak tannin. It’s a very thin bourbon, not much viscosity. Finish: Can’t say much about the finish. It’s very short, and leaves a predominant barrel char note with subtle reminders of grape or cherry cola. All in all, this is a good, easy drinker. The nose far outdoes the palate in my opinion and it’s pretty one note on the palate. If this was 100 proof and non-chill filtered I feel like it would be a killer. Final Rating: 7.8/10

Nose: Right up front you get honey roasted peanuts, oak, and brown sugar sweetness. Digging a little deeper we find soft vanilla and caramel notes, and maybe a touch of milk chocolate. There may be the slightest hint of cherry down in there as well along with a black peppery bite. The nose makes you work a little bit, the notes don’t jump out of the glass. Palate: Not as sweet as the nose would lead you to believe. The front of the palate is a bit muted by tannins in my opinion. I’m missing that caramel punch that the nose provided. Mid palate is where is bourbon shines. It begins with a darker chocolate note, then goes into a payday bar, and finishes with a stronger cherry note and some oak. Finish: The finish is decent here. It’s a bit drying, sweet with milk chocolate dipped cherries, and a touch of pepper. Final rating: 7.7/10 If you like darker, oakier whiskeys this might be the one for you. I’m personally much more a fan of that cream brûlée, fruit, and spice balance I get from wild turkey products. All in all a good bourbon, just don’t know if it’s worth the price tag for me.

Nose: Very fruit forward on the nose. Strawberry, raspberry preserves, and caramel candies are the first notes to come across. Candied orange, donut glaze, and baking spices are next with a underlying oak note. Palate: Very fruity up front. Strawberry Pop-Tart, cream, and simple syrup are found on the front of the palate. Mid palate has that candied orange note, allspice, and subtle oak. Mouthfeel is viscous and rich. Finish: The finish is warming with baking spices and presents a odd strawberry oak note that is quite unique and pleasant. The finish is lingering and mid-long length. Final Rating : 9.1/10

Nose: Buffalo trace sweet oak , red apple, and a peppery bite from the alcohol are the first notes that come across. Digging a bit deeper, there’s rich caramel, light whipping cream, and barrel char. The nose is a bit drowned out by the ethanol which is surprising for a 100 proof bourbon. Palate: Not quite a caramel bomb, but definitely caramel forward. The front of the palate is sweet with that caramel note, apple pie filling, and maybe a touch of vanilla. Mid-palate is interesting as you get a peppery spice, burnt pie crust, and a pretty nice cherry note. On the back end it’s a touch tannic, but nothing off putting. I wouldn’t call it thin, but it’s not as viscous as you would hope for. Finish: The finish is a shining moment for the whiskey. It starts with charred oak and black pepper but then evolves into a sweeter vanilla and cherry note which lingers at a medium length and is quite nice. Final Rating: 8.1/10

Nose: This is very classic Wild Turkey on the nose, just a little deeper than usual. The oak is definitely there, but it is layered in with cherry, dense vanilla custard, caramel, and orange zest. The Wild Turkey funk note is prominent as well which admittedly I am a huge fan of. There’s also a nice toasty note resembles toasted marshmallow and graham cracker. Palate: Easy sipper all the way. The front of the palate is typical Turkey with the cherry, brown sugar, and vanilla custard we found on the nose. The mid palate is where we find cinnamon graham cracker, almond, orange zest, clove, and a touch of bittersweet chocolate. Finish: The finish here is really great. The 17 year oak comes across as a wonderful fire roasted marshmallow that is almost nostalgic with how much it reminds me of being around a campfire making s’mores. Final rating 9.4/10

Nose: Warm, rich, and inviting. There’s a great caramel note and some typical bourbon notes that are ramped up. Great vanilla, sweet cinnamon, nutmeg, and walnut. It smells like a holiday nut cake with a caramel drizzle. The oak is in the background which is just how I like it, not overpowering. Palate: The palate very closely follows the nose. On the front you get a sweet chocolate, caramel glaze, and soft vanilla ice cream. The mid palate is my favorite part of the whiskey as more of the holiday cake notes come in. Carrot cake, walnut, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The spice is soft and rounded in such delicious way. Finish: The finish lingers and gives you the perfect amount of oak. The subtly spicy carrot cake note really hangs on and it’s truly great. Overall: This is a fantastic bourbon and it was pretty unique in how the flavors came across in my opinion. Definitely one I wish I could get a bottle of! Final rating: 9.6/10

Nose: Delicate, baking spices, red berries light perfume, underlying honeyed vanilla. Very bright, warm, and fresh on the nose. Palate: Tingling spice and fresh ground cinnamon is the first thing that you notice on the front of the palate. Then herbal tea and delicate tart raspberry fruitiness, golden honey, and soft vanilla come up mid palate. Finish: The finish here is a nice medium length and it’s all cinnamon teddy grahams. Overall: This whisky has really grown on me. It’s different and it’s really pleasant if you’re looking for something lighter. It’s super fresh and aromatic, it has almost an organic feel if that makes sense. It’s delicate, but dense and has really nice balance. Final grade: 8.4/10

I’m a big fan of Wild Turkey and a bigger fan of Russell’s. This may be the best value in bourbon. Nose: Red grapes, maraschino cherry, rich vanilla, brown sugar, fruit syrup, orange zest, slight touch of oak, cinnamon and subtle baking spices, and a hint of almond. Beautifully complex nose with a lot to offer. Palate: Palate is just as good as the nose! The first thing that hits is a nice fruity component like a cherry or strawberry syrup, then a nice bit of spice, the perfect amount of oak, vanilla custard, and the rye contributes a nice balance to the sweetness. Very oily and lingers so nicely. Finish: Long, tasty finish. There’s a nice spice and orange zest that has a underlying toasty oak note that brings it all together. All in all this is a hitter of a whiskey at a great price. This will always be on my shelf from this point forward. Rating 9.0/10