Tastes

Sweetness on yhe nose upon first opening the bottle. Not candy sweetness either, but dessert type. Caramel and vanilla, very rich. A little bit of oak slips through the longer breathes. For the proofage, no heat in the nose. On the pallet, the sweetness from the nose translates very well into the palate. This is remarkably well balanced and drinks very smooth at 50%. This is remarkably well balanced and the sweetness is not overriding even if it is the dominant character some light spice, oak, and even a few florals creep around the edge. The finish becomes spicier the more this oxidizes. It is still pretty darn special, though.

Rich, caramel and sweet on the nose. Even at such proofage, it wasn't going to blow your nostrils back. Subtle, almost. With the nose in the glass, more vanilla comes to the fore. After it's been sitting in the glass a while, a little brown sugar creeps in. The palate is strong but not overwhelming, with the sweetness from the nose creeping in. Delightful. A little tannin sneaks in on the finish with a dash of spice, but all is restrained without being weak. More bourbons should learn from this.

Smells like a straight bourbon on the nose, with cream corn and a hint of vanilla. Rye only comes out after it's been in the glass a while, and subdued at that. A soft rye. The front of the palate is incredibly gentle, with a gentle roll across the tongue, almost like you're having fresh rye bread out of the oven. The taste really does unfurl and grow with a sparkle of spice before a little of the rum influence kicks in near the finish. There's no burn in the finish either. A very pleasant rye that doesn't bring a lot of the rum finish to the table outright but then again it doesn't need to. The gentle rye extends from nose to palate to finish without ever overawing. A great intro to rye for the price with something left to enjoy for the connoisseur.

Wood and caramel on the nose. Clean wood, freshly cut. A little hint of spice. Not a complex nose but really fresh and delightful. Like being in a woodshop. Brief sweetness and heavy wood on the palate with a flash of light burn that dwindles to char. Finishes with a hint of clean charcoal and caramel, the spice grows more prominent if you take a bigger sip. A very well put together whiskey with big flavor and no sins. Time definitely smoothed out the rough edges the regular Jack posseses.

Wood and spice on the nose, but neither very strong. The palate is simple yet solid. It starts out like you're going to get an alcohol punch but it never materializes. Spice and light oak that fades to a gentle finish. A good sipping bourbon to keep around of you don't want to be distracted by it.

Very light rye and spice on the nose, almost non-existent at first. Thin and acrid on the palate before settling into a suddenly pleasant rye. Nothing outstanding but still moderately fun. Not able to pick out the Calvados finish much except for a curious taste in the finish that is subtle but intriguingly unique.

Rich but kinda monochromatic on the nose - a lovely vanilla from the wood, but subtle. You really have to get your nose in. The palate has a nice kick without being overpowering. The mouthfeel is a little oily and richly coating. Some spice follows the initial heat and you're confronted again with that creamy vanilla. Almost buttery. Really pleasant out of the bottle, and a few drops of water open it up even more and turns the vanilla into Graham cracker. The finish is a warm hug that lasts.

This is for the 6 year version. Nose of vanilla and green apple. Spice on the tongue followed by some rye with a great, smooth mouthfeel. Finishes with light oak and a lasting warmth. The rye is not as strident as I'd expect, but it's not a bad thing.

Ripe pear and sweet fruit on the nose. Floral elements come out the longer its in the glass. Palate is sharp - - not from the alcohol, but a crispness of flavor. There are no rough edges to the palate but there is an aspect to the flavor that I think might be solved by a few more years in the barrel. Oak enters on the front and is supplanted by a growth of pepper on the back palate, especially on the sides of the tongue before fizzling out in the finish, which has a dash of vanilla and light floral again. Somehow pleasing despite being disjointed.

Sweet fruit on the nose, apple and pear. Cognac definitely comes through on the nose, on the back of the pear. Not quite perfume-y. Tart apple on the palate, surprisingly bitter after the sweetness of the nose. Palate is heavy on the oak and apple. The back palate is oaky and astringent before the finish finally circles back to a breath of Cognac to close you out. What a bizarre journey. Feels hotter than it should at 14 years and 40% abv.