Tastes

Neat. Open for ~6 months. Cork n Bottle 7 year pick. First impression of this bottle was average. Decided to explore it again today. There is a surprising green grass, young brightness to it for 7 years. I have had a few 5 year MGPs recently that we’re rich and deep without the young note. There is a great butterscotch note. Very rich. Surrounded by vanilla and baking spices. Hint of cherry too. Medium mouth feel, bit thin on the edges. Bright vanilla upfront front gives way to the butterscotch and baking spices. That cherry comes back on subsequent sips and lingers on the legs. This is an off profile MGP. It has familiar notes but I would probably not guess this is MGP blind. That rich butterscotch note holds up the entire experience but it is just okay.

Neat. Open for more than 6 months. Full disclosure, last time I had this I also ate bad food and the food poisoning took me down for two days. My body associated the poisoning with the vermouth. This is my first attempt at trying this again.... On the nose, the vermouth dominates (and I survived!) and doesn’t leave much room for the rest of the Whiskey. I am getting vanilla and toasted almond. Little raisin. Not much else. The mouth feel is smooth and thick despite the lower proof. Mmm, okay I like this a lot. The vanilla comes through so bright and vermouth complements it nicely. Toasted almond is hinted at but the vanilla is king here and comes back on the finish. Finish lasts quite a while too. Ah so glad I could try this again. I waited awhile, not to dare my body to self inflict a negative reaction. It’s such a solid, interesting dram. There is a lack of complexity but the flavors it has are so nice.

Neat. Neck pour. Gallenstein pick BCW10. First, I rarely note color but this is a beautiful auburn. Quite dark for just 6 years. This nose is lovely, light and bright with a few interesting dark notes as high dive deeper. Buttered popcorn is the first thing I am pulling out. Super buttery. Caramel brittle. Baking spices. Cinnamon apples. Honey and maple. Glorious mouth feel. So velvety. This is really good, I think this pick beats the one I got from the distillery. On the tongue it is all this honey and nectar sweetness. Transitions to even more over the top sweetness. Cotton candy to hard caramels with intense lingering vanilla. It’s so oily that waves of caramel keep coming and it rolls down the throat so slowly. The more I sit with it, darker oak notes straight to come up. A lovely pour. I really enjoyed that.

Neat. Neck pour. Binny’s pick, ~11year. First time with a OESQ. Vanilla frosting, chocolate and strawberries on the nose. Almost reminds me of a crepe with a layer of baking spice behind it. That chocolate note is my favorite aspect. Thick and viscous on the tongue. All brown sugar and baking spices. Burnt caramel and chocolate on taste. The longer I sit with it this floral component becomes more prominent on the nose and taste. It’s delightful but just okay. Somewhat of a let down for my first Four Roses Barrel Strength Store pick experience. That chocolate note salvaged the entire experience.

Neat. Neck pour. Super rich. Floral at first but transitions to a baking spice bomb. Cinnamon. Burnt caramel. Nice cherry. Burnt sugar and French vanilla. It’s really nice. Perfectly balanced. None of the flavors are aggressive but they are distinct and rich. Wow, it’s a roller coaster. A long roller coaster. I want to go for another sip but it’s still hitting me with flavors. Alright, the texture is super oily, thick but smooth. An overwhelming brown sugar and cherry sweetness is the first to strike. Flips into a cinnamon bomb, mutes for a second and then brings caramel, char, vanilla in waves. It finishes like a creme brûlée. Holy shit. That is amazing. That may be the best bourbon I have ever had. Most expensive thing I have ever purchased but it is amazing. Flavor is still coming. Wrote two paragraphs and the flavors are still coming in waves. I’m shocked.

Neat. Neck pour. Party Source pick. This is my first JD Barrel Proof store pick! Nose comes across so light for 130 proof. This is a vanilla bomb. Vanilla and a hint of apple. The JD banana note is just barely in the background. Slight baking spice. Little cinnamon. This is surprisingly subtle. Like a vanilla scone. Light, delicate, but also delicious smelling. Surprised to write light and delicate in this tasting.... Mouth feel is syrupy and oily. Really viscous. Oh man, oh my. Yep that is a vanilla bomb, a delicious vanilla bomb. The cinnamon and baking spice is escalating. The banana note is coming in too. Wow that is banana fosters, smoother in rich vanilla ice cream. I am constantly amazed about what Jack Daniels can be when it’s not water down to nothing. This barrel pick just raises what is possible even higher.

Neat. Neck pour. Nuttiness and ethanol hit me first on the nose. Some vanilla and mint. Decent amount of cherry, I love finding cherry. Baking spices. Cinnamon. Taste is a good translation of the nose. Nice, creamy mouth feel. Vanilla sweetness hits first, transitions to the cinnamon, cherry and leaves you with the nuttiness. I would put this blind against Bakers. I think it would hold its own. There is a bit of ethanol that may hold it back from competing with Bakers and that makes sense too. That is probably why it is where it is in price in the vertical. A very very solid $30 bottle.

Neat. Neck pour. DEPs 5 year pick, 59%, barrel 27718. Pretzels and caramel brittle. Intense caramel brittle. Toffee. Brine. Apples. Great nose. Texture is quite oily and viscous. This one is a bit hot and spicy! Going to need to get acclimated. Caramel brittle again in the tongue, transitions to intense vanilla, cherry and a hint of cola. All those flavors remain in the legs, which keep coming in waves. This is really good. Maybe a hair below the TPS pick. Old Scout (and MGP) is back strong with these 5 year picks.

Neat. Party Source 6 year pick. Wheat bread and cinnamon. I’d even say a Honey Wheat Bread. Hint of chocolate. Salty wood. Caramel and vanilla. Black pepper. This is quite the nose for a low proof wheater. Nice, creamy mouth feel with brown sugar and cinnamon up front. Transitions to a salted chocolate. Now getting some vanilla frosting as well. Essentially a chocolate cake with vanilla icing. Short finish. Awesome store pick. I have never been a big fan of regular Larcency and have even avoided prior chances at Larceny single barrel. This pick wins me over though, especially at $23ish bucks.

Neat. Neck Pour. Pie crust and coffee come through on a very dark nose for a 90 proof bourbon. Decent amount of oak for a young bourbon. Burnt caramel. Hint of bubble gum and ripe red fruits (bouncing around cherries or raspberries.). Getting a hint of nuttiness the longer I sit with it. Nice oily texture again. Lost Monarch I thought the same thing. It has a great mouth feel for 90 proof. I am a fan of this one! Cherry sweetness at first turns into caramel, vanilla. Cherry and vanilla just keep swirling together to through the legs. Slight hint of bubble gum lingers subtly. The oak and nuttiness never come through on the taste. Solid 4 year! This is a clean, smooth, inviting experience. Not complex, but the limited range is delicious. Fantastic pour for $30! I want to equate this to a Weller Special Reserve in a lot of ways off memory.