Tastes

Nose was sweet with cherry cola. Taste was warm and spicy, and I got a ton of oak and nuttiness on the back, that lasted a shockingly long time. Which is my favorite for bourbons. Love this stuff, especially for the price!

I don't know what is wrong with my bottle of this stuff. It is easily one of the worst bourbons I've ever tasted. Bitter, sour, just a mess.

Lovely nose, especially with a bit of water. Really really great. Pure caramel and vanilla. My bottle is a bonkers 127 proof. The only thing I can fault is the finish which drops off quickly for me. It's a little short and a little bitter. Maybe I added too much water. Will update if that turns out to have been the case.

My first pour from this left me disappointed. I got nothing but spice and heat. I don't know if the bottle mellowed or I acclimated (neck pour is real?), but now I have no complaints. Especially with a splash of water, this stuff opens right up and you get a very balanced but flavorful bourbon. I especially enjoy the long charred oak on the finish. It's a warm bonfire in my mouth!

Warehouse G, floor 4, barrel #20-0261. 9 year. Oak and spice bomb. Very warm soothing finish. Some sips I get some bitterness that lingers in the aftertaste and that kinda ruins it for me. The bottle has been open for a while and it hasn't improved. If it weren't for that, this would be one of my favs. With some water it does seem to improve and dilute the bitterness. I get a bit of the same bitterness with Wild Turkey Rare Breed. Maybe Wild Turkey isn't for me?

Probably my favorite bourbon in my collection right now. You get a little bit of everything: sweetness, nuttiness, oak, and char, and it's all perfectly balanced. Has enough body that it doesn't sip like a young or light bourbon, but not excessive bitterness or tannins. My only complaint is that I only have one bottle.

This whiskey has character! Of all the bourbons I've tried so far, this one benefits from water the most. The nose was nearly nonexistent until I put in a bottle cap of water and then it opened up. I've never gotten so much smokey character on a bourbon nose. The palate starts with a quick blast of sweetness and becomes oaky and nutty quickly. The high proof and strong flavor don't make this the most passive experience--but you knew that's what you were getting with 120 proof. The oak and roasted chestnuts grow into the finish, which also presents a massive char character. The consistency is thick and the finish lasts quite a while. Combined with the warmth from the high proof, it's almost like you're roasting chestnuts in your mouth with oak firewood! Love it! Edit: drinking the last dram from the bottle as I type this. Still think it's amazing. Still can't get over the perfect nutty woody finish--strong but not bitter at all. I just hope my next bottle lives up to this one.