Tastes

Wow. This is the smoothest, no burn 125+ bourbon I'm sure I will ever taste. Practically maple syrup, but with a smooth bourbon finish. I feel lucky to have tried this

The initial nose is unpleasant. Smells thin and a touch like nail polish remover. After sitting out for a minute, it opens up a bit and there are subtle hints of caramel and toffee but still in a thin way. Third try reminded me a lot of Scotch with a little peat and salinity. Flavor initially reminded me of burnt wood (but in an unpleasant way) or toothpaste. After a while, it sweetened a touch, but the mouthfeel is quick and it's somewhat all-around watery for 90-proof. After a while, I am noticing more and more that it drinks a bit like young, cheap scotch, with none of the character of corn or sweetness that I am used to getting from Bourbon. For the price, an interesting pour, but definitely not a good one.

I tried this from a mini-bottle (like the ones you get on an airplane) and it was much better than I thought it'd be (I'll admit I went in expecting it to be inferior to other classic American whiskies in the same way gluten free beer tastes a bit off). In fact, it was smooth and a touch sweet, with notes of butterscotch and a nutty-sappy-waxy quality, like the skin of pecans or walnuts. I enjoyed it neat and I was really pleasantly surprised. It tastes enough like bourbon that if I had had this without knowing what it was, I wouldn't have suspected anything unusual about the ingredients.

I'm usually a bourbon guy, so I'm working hard to describe this properly. On the nose, peaty and a touch of fruit and black tea. Taste is also peaty, a bit briny, a touch of ash, mildly sweet (like a whisper of corn). For whatever reason, it reminds me of drinking rum at a beach resort, with the mixture of sweet and hint of the ocean

A unique, spicy pour that tastes like peppery, grassy, green tea. A little thin-bodied but full of punch. Last time, I had this in a bar and was the last pour in the bottle, but now I own it and it tastes like I remember (+1 for consistency) I can see how this might be devisive - it's practically distilled lawn clippings. I like this because I can't find anything quite like it. When I'm in a certain mood, I really enjoy this. If you only have room in your palate for dark, deep ryes like something from Willet Family Estate, then this isn't for you, but if you're curious and into something atypical then give this a chance

A bit disappointed. A bit too subdued. I noticed the slightest hint of marshmallow sweetness, with notes of milk chocolate and cinnamon. Spicy-ish and thin. A smooth drinker, with no discernible alcohol burn, and a short finish. I generally really like twice barreled bourbons and rye, but I want more sweetness, chocolate, char, or marshmallow from this like i usually associate with second barreling. It drinks well enough but not much different than a regular rye or high rye bourbon. I wonder if it would be better at a higher proof.

Had my first taste of this today in-store, and I immediately bought it. At the outset, it is a sweet, juicy, light whiskey that reminds me of ripe, fall apples. Owing to its somewhat thin body and shorter finish, this makes me think of apple wine with hints of cinnamon and cedar. I almost want to try it warm. It's a pleasant sipper that I imagine I could enjoy on a brisk autumn day without thinking about too deeply. I'm excited to tuck into this a bit more when I have a bit of time.

Classic bourbon flavor profile with an appreciable punch in the proof department. Cinnamon, brown sugar, a hint of cocoa, and musty oak. This is exactly, perfectly average bourbon for me - so I'd probably say it is overpriced at it's $50 bottle price compared to better offerings like the Knob Creek single barrel bottles or nearly as good Jim Beam Distiller's Cut

I know this is a rye, but it drinks more like a juicy bourbon with fruity, cherry qualities. Thinner, perhaps, than I would like and missing some of the grassy spice character I usually associate with rye. I wrote that first paragraph before looking this up and learning that this is Rye finished in French wine barrels. It certainly tastes like it. That might explain the thinness but I still think this would benefit greatly from a slightly higher bottle proof. The bourbon-like character is also explained by the mashbill - barely a rye at 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley. Is that what the "lip service" refers to in the name?

Now that I've been drinking, buying, collecting, and tasting bourbon for a little while, I can't help but feel that Blanton's just underwhelms. Yes, it is smooth. But so is watered-down bourbon of almost any kind. Which is not to say that Blanton's is watered down. Just that it tastes watered down. I think Blanton's is pretty much one note. It is honey water. I wish it had more punch. I wish it had something that made it stand out Dumped 10-24-18, Barrel 2081, Warehouse H, Rick No. 56, 93-Proof