Tastes

Nose is full of vanilla and wood/smoke, with hints of campfire. Palate is more of the same with a dry but lingering finish. Great bourbon from a great local distillery

Color: Light amber Nose: heavy vanilla icing with light brown sugar Palate: Starts sweet with vanilla and some slight almond. Short to moderate finish length with a little astringency

This whisky is a light amber in color. On the nose you get some typical rye notes like minty/eucalyptus. Additionally what May sound weird to some but I get a smell like freshly walking into a roller skating rink. A sort of musty wood smell that is very nostalgic and not at all off putting. On the palate I get some notes of black pepper and vanilla with some caramel rounding out the edges. The finish is short to medium in length

Appearance: When it comes to bottle presentation, it does not get much cooler than Willett. The bottle is very fancy, designed to look like a pot still. A very nice-looking bottle to place on your shelf.The whiskey itself is light amber in color. Nose: In comparison to other bourbons, the nose is very light and floral in nature. After a few sips, some faint cinnamon, wood, and a smidge of vanilla can be found on the nose as well. Palate: Very classic tasting on the palate with brown sugar and vanilla making up the largest notes. Underneath you can uncover some light leather and wood notes to round out the flavor. I was expecting it to be much oilier than it is. It is not a "thin" whiskey but not super oily either. The finish is moderate in length, ending with a nice vanilla. Summary: Overall this is a very solid whiskey. Depending on what price you find it at, I think it is worth picking up a bottle, especially if you have never had it before. The bottle itself makes it a cool one to have on your shelf to show off to friends or to turn into an infinity bottle.

Appearance: The bottle is very thick with rounded edges, reminiscent of a pre-prohibition style. The backside of the label can be seen through the bottle with an illustration of the old building on the river next to the distillery. The whiskey itself is dark honey in color. Nose: The nose of this whiskey is very interesting because wood notes dominate instead of fruit or vanilla. There are hints of light fruit as well. Personally, I get a little green apple and pear. Upon returning to the nose after a few sips, I can also get faint hints of cherry. Palate: The palate follows the nose. It is very wood forward with some hints of vanilla and honey. For a 100 proof whiskey, it is actually pretty smooth with a little bite. The finish is short and dry. Summary: The wood notes that dominate the nose and palate make this whiskey rather unique when compared to other Tenessee whiskeys that tend to be more vanilla and fruit-forward. The limited area this whiskey is available in makes it a fun whiskey to bring back to talk about with friends. I would not make a special trip for it, but this is worth a taste if you find yourself down at Old Forage in Tenessee.

Appearance: This Tennessee whiskey comes in a square-like bottle with a rounded top. To go along with an admittedly cool name, the label is black with a textured feel. The whiskey itself is a darker brown to amber in color. Kingsnake is a straight bourbon whiskey, so by definition, it is aged at least 2 years. Nose: The nose of this whiskey is very fruit-forward, more so than many other whiskies I've tried. Specifically, I get a heavy dose of dark fruit/cherry. The cherry is almost medicinal in nature, almost like a cherry cough syrup but not quite as strong. If you dig there are a few other classic bourbon notes present like caramel. There are also some faint hints of some citrus, like orange. Returning to the nose after a few sips, the nose adds a faint burnt sugar note as well. Palate: The palate is a little flat in my opinion. The overall mouthfeel is rather thin, which some people enjoy. I usually prefer slightly oilier whiskey. There is a little alcohol bite, even though it is only 90 proof. There are very few wood notes. The palate is instead dominated by lighter fruit and caramel. The finish is longer than expected with some peppery hints at the end. Summary: If this were a widely available whiskey I would probably not be as into it. However, the fact that it is currently only available in Tenessee locally around the distillery makes it a little more fun. Additionally, it is much fruitier on the nose and on the palate than some other whiskies I've tried, which adds to its uniqueness. If you are down in Tennesee and like fruitier notes in your whiskey it is worth trying a bottle!

Appearance: The bottle is beautifully shaped, designed in the pre-prohibition style. The label is supposed to be the original design from before the distillery was shut down during prohibition. The whiskey itself is dark amber in color. It does not say if any coloring is added to the whiskey, but regaurdless it is a very pleasing shade. Nose: This whiskey is like most Tenessee Whiskey (very similar to bourbon). You can get notes of vanilla, caramel, and light fruit. However, a very unique aspect of this whiskey is there is a very dominant note of banana bread. Personally, I love it and think it makes the nose of this whiskey rather fun and unique. Palate: Again, the classic Tennessee Whiskey (bourbon) notes are present. There is some vanilla, caramel, and fruit. My favorite aspect of the palate is the mid to finish of a dark chocolate which becomes an almost dark chocolate-covered cherry note. Summary: A very solid whiskey that I am a big fan of. It doesn't hurt that it is not available in my area and had to drive to Tennessee to get it. However, for $35 I feel you get all the classic tastes you would expect plus a few bonus unique aspects that make this a fun whiskey to sip on. Enjoy!

Appearance: The bottle is a beautiful dark emerald green with a black label and white lettering. A fine-looking bottle on anyone's shelf. The whisky itself is actually on the more pale side. It is more of a light yellow, almost a watered honey in color. Nose: Any weakness perceived by its pale color is blown away by one whiff once poured. A nose not meant for the faint of heart. Campfire smoke dominates with some additional medicinal iodine and beachside sea salt air. Palate: For anyone new to Islay Scotch smoke is going to make up 90%-95% of the palate at first. Once acclimated, additional notes of sea salt, bacon, and processed ham can be found. At one point during the sip, there is almost a sweet note of bitter chocolate... if you hallucinate a little and really look for it. Summary: This is an incredible bottle of whisky and one of my personal favorites. It is a great representation of classic Islay Scotch. A person more acquainted with Bourbon may find the description above to be a bit strange. However, after giving it a try I think you will find it to be an enjoyable change of scenery from the sweetness of bourbon. A must-have for any home bar.

Appearance: The bottle itself has a very classic bourbon bottle appearance. The white label is adorned with the likeness of a turkey. It is a very recognizable logo that I am sure even none whiskey enthusiasts recognize. Nose: For a budget bourbon, the nose has all of the classic elements you think of when it comes to bourbon. For me, I get a very floral sweetness along with honey, butterscotch, and vanilla. These are all very basic pieces of a typical bourbon nose. Palate: The palate is light in feeling with vanilla, wood, and some spice coming from the high rye percentage. Buried under the initial flavors is some oak as well. The finish has some lingering spice, which is pleasant. Overall a great experience. Summary: For the price, this is a great bourbon. It has every element of a very classic bourbon you could want. I think it would be great for a whiskey novice to practice getting very classic bourbon notes. For $23 you can't go wrong. The 101 proof is a great introduction to stronger whiskies and gives this whiskey a nice full body of flavor that I think is slightly lost in the 81 proof version. This should be easily found in most liquor stores for anyone who would want to give it a try.