Tastes

Hay, strawberry and cocoa on the nose. Palate expands into fondu territory with chocolate berry notes, cinnamon and vanilla. Honey, and rasin bran with black pepper on the finish.

Nose is sawdust, apple, honey, caramel, hay, pepper and a hint of rye. Palate is brown sugar, caramel, more apple, cinnamon and leather with a hint of something herbal, maybe bay leaf. Drying tannic finish with cinnamon, dried apple (naturally) and an herbal note. Beat out Early Times and Buffalo Trace in a blind test. Tied with Green River and Blue Note. Lost to Wheel Horse in the battle of affordable 90-100 proof bourbons. However, in another blind…came in last after Wilderness Trail, Larceny, and Green River Wheated. It’s a readily available sipper with similarities to both Buffalo Trace and Blanton’s.

Pumpernickel, caramel, vanilla, burnt sugar and cherry on the nose. Carries over into a nuanced sip as the 4 grains do their thing. Cereal, strawberries and graham cracker make an appearance too. Cinamon nutmeg spiciness on the medium finish.

Has the distinct woodsy, barley Rieger nose, similar to a highly polished old bar. Mahogany-oak varnish is joined by mildly salty lemon. Palate maintains the tangy-sweet wood with a lemon undertone and raisins, nuts, hay and clove. Finish is tannic with a spicy black tea presence that transforms the oak to sandalwood. Lemon zest lingers.

Tangy, sweet nose. Brown sugar, hay, peanut, peach and southern bbq. Palate follows through on the nose with added molasses, honey mustard, brown sugar, peach and charred oak. This would pair well with cole slaw and pulled pork. Short, sweet and spicy finish. I wouldn’t guess this was 2 years old.

This one smells like a rye. Classic barnyard stubble, sandalwood, apple, honey, graham crackers, allspice, ginger and cinnamon. Palate melds the nose in a smooth woody, brown sugar and apple-forward blend. Leathery caramel, if that’s a thing. Cocoa tobacco. Not complex but enjoyable. Has backbone. Would be complimented by a flannel shirt and a cigar. Not a light, summery rye and that’s ok with me. Finishes with molasses-soaked wood and a hint of chocolate cherry. I don’t understand the low reviews on this one.