Tastes

2.0 Stars - Nice, but…; 20 ml sample Dry. Licorice. Tastes like a blend of Rowan’s Creek bourbon and Dewars. Not sure that works.

4.5 Stars - Excellent; 5 bottles The great American novel. Much ado is made about which books capture the quintessential American spirit in a captivating and original literary form. Is Booker’s the great American bourbon? This is The Catcher in the Rye of bourbon. Instantly enthralling, even to the novice. My first bourbon tasting was at a grocery store over 15 years ago. My naive self did not realize these were all Jim Beam products: Knob Creek, Bakers, Booker’s and more. This was easily the star of the night, even without knowing anything about the proof or price. Fresh boiled peanut, dusty hay barn, seasoned oak, and molasses. The best books stand the test of time. So does Booker’s. This is an excellent bourbon.

2.0 stars - Nice but flawed Bought a bottle when visiting my relatives last year for the holidays. A real punch to the panhandle. Big, bold, unapologetic.

2.0 stars - Nice, but…; 750 ml bottle Not my style. It is like I smoked a pipe of fresh tobacco and then stuffed an entire box of Red Hot candies in my mouth. Cinnamon bomb. Tastes like Wild Turkey turned up to 11.4. I kind of enjoyed this grandpa style… tall glass of ice and a strong pour.

4.0 stars - Excellent; 750 ml bottle. Do your job. Is that so hard? Apparently, for most whiskies, that is a really tall order. What I enjoy most about this expression is how it shows up and does it’s job. The aroma and flavor are in perfect alignment with the price. The marketing and bottle design match the contents. The distillery DNA is ever present. To whom it may concern, I highly recommend you hire this whiskey.

1.0 stars - Poor, flawed; 750 ml bottle I was really excited when I found one last bottle of Old Ezra at my local grocery store. This is a recently in vogue bourbon and has all but disappeared. Well, now I know what it feels like to be a beaver. Oak, oak, and more oak. I gave this several months to open up, but the flavor improved only slightly. This bottle tastes like an experiment in home aging gone awry.

3.5 stars - Very good; 5 bottles For work, I have a minimalist wardrobe: 11 shirts, 4 trousers, 3 belts/shoes, and 2 sports coats. Every piece matches, is strong value for the money, and is distinctive. I have over six month’s worth of combinations. For your minimalist bar, for Scotch I would recommend you pick up Johnnie Walker Black and Monkey Shoulder. Then call it a day. They are widely available, great values, have distinctive style, and work neat/rocks/cocktails. Monkey Shoulder is a great blend. It is better than the sum of its parts. I had one bottle that was slightly over oaked, but otherwise it has been consistently high quality.

3.0 stars - Good; 750 ml bottle You know, I actually had a really good time. Many times, I’ve gone to a social event out of a sense of obligation. Then I end up having an engaging conversation with someone new. We debate, we laugh. Are we best friends? No. Did we trade info? No. But, man, that was a fun evening. Amador is that whiskey. I received it as a birthday gift. Based on the reviews, I put off opening this for a long time. You know what? This is a really fun whiskey. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy.

3.5 stars - Very Good; 750 ml bottle This is a review for the old Rare Breed. Going from memory…around 10 years ago. This bottle opened my eyes to the world of premium bourbon. Rich, deep flavors. My recent bottle of the white label, barrel proof Rare Breed tastes nothing like I remember.

2.0 stars - Nice, but…; 750 ml bottle I preferred the old Rare Breed. Different bottle, lower proof, and was much richer in flavor. This one strikes me as thin and hot.