Tastes

Just about done with the bottle, so I thought I’ve gathered enough info to post a review. Like any bottle, it had its ups and downs, but the more I drank the more I appreciated it. I get orange dreamsicle on the nose, a note I’ve never noticed on any other bourbon. I get traditional, but light bourbon notes on the palate, honey, caramel, etc. Very sweet and refreshing, a bit more of a summer pour. The finish is ozzing in cinnamon, chocolate coffee cake. The problem with waiting so long to finish a specisl release is that by the time you realize its’s really good, you can’t get it any more.

This is one of those rare bourbons that are so complex it will take me a half bottle to figure it all out. But one thing is for sure, this is great whiskey! Many people just don’t understand how a company can justify $200 or more for a bourbon with no known source and no age statement. One pour of this and they will. It is admittedly a leap if faith in some cases, but Old Carter has a reputation for blending great whiskeys for a reason.

I’ve only had one pour from the bottle and it will take a few more to do this justice. But with one pour this has changed my expectations of whiskey. With the enormous complexity this whiskey brings to the table, you would expect to find some note you didn’t like. Good luck finding it. This whiskey is truly a master class in blending and finishing. Absolutely phenomenal!

This bourbon is a master class in how to blend bourbon. The Johnson’s have become the new Carter’s in the blending world. They have managed to get the best out of a 7 year bourbon and a 15 year bourbon without any of the negatives. I get a complex palate of caramel, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, spiceness, and a little heat. The finish follows with berries, some dark chocolate with no hint of tannins. This is a perfect example of a bourbon punching in well above its proof to be the flavor bomb you expect from a 130 proof monster.

One thing that very good multiple barrel finished boubons have in common is a great finish and this is one of my favorite finishes of all time. I get honey, oak, and a hint of cinnamon. I don’t know if it’s better than Magnus Cigar Blend but it is every but as good. There’s so much going on I’m having a hard time picking up specific notes on the palate. This is one of my top five best bourbobs ever and with over 20 years under my belt I think that says a lot.

I’ve had several pours from my bottle now and this is a Bourbon I really wanted to like. I certainky hoped for more traditional vanilla and caramel flavors from hand selected 12 year bourbons. To me the high rye recipes overwhelmed the ageing and resulted in a younger rye recipe bourbon flavor profile where light citrus and baking spices dominate everything. Don’t get me wrong this is a good bourbon and likely very good for people that really enjoy high rye recipe bourbon. That’s just not me.

All I can say is I blinded this against PVW 15, Four Gate Split Stave, and Old Fitz 14 and it tied PVW for first. Beside the rich traditional bourbon flavors and complexity there is no offending flavors at all, just nothing I don’t like. This is simply a great bourbon.

This is an outrageously good bourbon, even for the price. If you like sweet, complex flavor bombs with a little heat this is for you. Caramel, vanilla, chocolate, molasses, you name a sweet flavor in a bourbon and it’s here. There’s so much going on it’s difficult to nail down all the flavors.  One of the few Bourbons I’ve ever had where the sweetness of the palate carries on to the finish. My only knock would be that the finish isn’t long enough. If you like spicey this probably isn’t for you, otherwise, I highly recommend it.

The 45% wheat really takes over the palate with great mellow sweetness that doesn’t end. I get a bit of citrus on the nose and finish along with a big hit of dark chocolate on the finish. This MGP mashbill is not easy to find from any NDP, but certainly worth seeking out. This is one of those rare bourbons that I think almost everybody would like, with nothing off-putting that I can find. For my palate, the only thing it’s missing is a bit more in-your-face punch that would allow the flavor to explode when it hits the tongue.

This as much flavor as I’ve ever got out of a 100 proof bourbon. This has it all, wonderful nose, coating mouthfeel, complex palate, and almost perfect finish. I get some fruitiness, honey, oak and a little leather that seems to go from nose to finish. The way the flavors mingle together really stands out. The only knock on this bourbon is that the finish is medium short, although it is extremely pleasant with no hint of ethanol. I’m a proof hound, but this is as good as a bourbon gets at 50% abv.