Tastes

Nose is oak, caramel and mild saline with some vanilla, honey, and bread. On the tongue there’s dried cherry and currants. Peach, orange, and lemon join the fray if you give it time. Just a hint of the darker register: caramel, brown sugar, salted pecan, cedar, leather, a dusting of cocoa. The age takes off the sharper, robust edges you find in the 9 year and 120 proof versions. Fruity and mildly salty finish with some oak, clove and cinnamon. On paper this is a good comp for Dickel 13 year. I tried them head to head and would give this one the nod, but it’s close. Expert review is criminally low.

Nose is spearmint, pepper and bread dough with some peanut, hay, sawdust and the rye edge you’d expect from the mashbill. Butterscotch, cinnamon, brown sugar, mint, green apple, cherry and persistent bread on the tongue. A fruity vanilla tannic spiciness closes things out. Won first place in a blind with 1792, Green River Wheated, and Larceny.

Nose hits the darker register with caramel, molasses, cocoa, autumn leaves and a side of sun-warmed hay. No complaints. The smoothness of the palate is a nod to the 7yr age statement. Honey, vanilla, sawdust, leather…apple and mild lemon. A still life in a lumberyard. Finish is tannic and medicinal with spearmint and something smoky like mesquite. Finally, a solid BiB from my adjacent state. I feel proud.

Honey, floral, sawdust nose with rye spices. Vaniila and toffee make an appearance. Splash of oak on the tongue with ginger, cinnamon, clove and apple. A robust, spicy sip. Herbal sagebrush wild west note in the background. Balanced spicy finish with apple pie and raisin. Compares well to Maker’s Mark cask strength.

I get corn cobs and hay on the nose. Maybe a hint of vanilla. Palate doesn’t hold any surprises. A sunny, honeyed high-corn bourbon with a swirl of toffee. Short tannic, mildly spicy finish.

Amusingly, as i tasted this, i was playing a song by The National, Once Upon a Poolside with a reference to “tangerine perfume.” Nailed it. A delicate, light bourbon that reminds me some of Four Roses.

Sweet and caramelly but also watery.

Vannila, oak and honey, bubblegum finish.

Bright, floral, honey, vanilla, mildly spicy. Summer fruit on the tongue. Some cocoa and oak and caramel. Spicy relatively short finish. Like a better version of Four Roses single barrel.

Dark, oaky, autumn leaves and spices with some rye. Molasses and caramel popcorn. Straightforward with a long tannic finish. Bubbles Wine & Spirits 2023 edition.