Tastes

Indeed this does add on to the already excellent(4star) Forty Creek Barrel Select and take it all the way. The extra aging and bolder spice and vareity give this one all you can really ask for at this price point, just an outstanding quality in a Canadian whiskey. Forty Creek has finally made a Canadian whiskey that actually has enough appeal to satisfy a rich American bourbon drinkers desires. Take this one home!

First off, this is a great Canadian whiskey, an excellent variety of grains offers a bold character but maintains overall smoothness expected from a "canadian". The age casks might reduce consistency but it will add variety if not subtle nuance to the carmel/leather spice and smooth finish. A great value point offering for neat drinkers.

Another "perfect" value bourbon, if you just want a smooth but still spicy and not overbearing array of flavors this one is it. It's priced to make it an "every day" drinker if you can find it on the shelf. Starts warm, finishes warm, entirely smooth but flavorful. (update 2020) Well obviously you won't find this priced anything like retail anymore, probably ever again, like Full Proof, Antique, Single Barrel and all the other Saz owned products this one is destined to become another unicorn bottle. I would note Weller 12 has never really been better than Antique while you will almost certainly pay more for the black label. To each his own but I would save my money and get the Red Label Antique every time. Much like saving your money on Green Label now and just getting Makers Mark, the demand on Weller is just feeding a monster that probably needs to die. We have done this ourselves, all of us, but it's important to remember while the demand for Weller, ALL Weller, has skyrocketed and thus so has the price, the product itself has not changed, it's no better or worse than it ever was. There are too many good things to be had that don't come from a Sazerac owned Weller bottle, to continually chase this dream.

no stars Simply cannot recommend under any conditions, perhaps as a baseline for what you should never EVER do to whiskey. Perhaps a jalapeno by itself, but this combo of pepper and honey simply doesnt work. It's difficult to imagine someone actually said this was a "GO" to release on. This is likely the clear result of what happens when you put marketers in charge who don't understand what bourbon whiskey is about. Not recommended.. NO GO... BROKEN ARROW

Never underestimate Heaven Hill. While the nose suggests a walloping blend of sweet smooth flavors the taste isn't as entirely smooth and rich as you would guess. That is to say this isn't Pappy, you paid slightly over 20$ at metro liquors for something that isn't pappy, now cry me a river. This is still one of the absolute values in liquor today, a great round rich flavor and sweetness that does HH proud. Not noting the in your face "fruityness" the pro reviewer states, the fruit flavor is more subdued with rich smokes/vanilla and woods, however it finishes with a warm cinnamon that simply makes you anticipate the next sip of this no longer secret, secret weapon. The absolute value properly deserves the 3.5 stars. If you don't try this one right away you are nuts and don't deserve a good drink. Grab it before the local store jacks the price to 30$ (if they already havent) and hats off to Heaven Hill for this huge favor to us bourbon lovers who like to save a dime now and again.