Tastes

Sugar and wood dominate here. A somewhat "strong" tasting bourbon. There is a lot to like here, if only it had more depth.

An ok rye for mixed drinks at this price. This one sips grain, Rye and wheat, all the way through. Might be a tad long on the tongue. Might...but that feels nit-picky.

Light and sweet. Sugar and Vanilla flavors are the first thing to hit your tongue with just enough woodiness to keep it interesting. Relatively short finish. Literally the prototype for good Irish whiskey.

101 Proof, but light enough to be approachable most any time. I get vanilla and sugar with a hint of smoke, almost like Creme Brulee on the tongue. It finishes smoky and holds on the palate for a surprisingly long time. This is spectacular at the price point. I'm a fan.

Alcohol. Straight from the nose and onto the tongue. Faint hints of spice, oak, and maybe even some pepper, but the alcohol dominates all of these. It turns surprisingly sweet and fades rather quickly with the bite lingering just a while longer. Good for a drink or two and glad to add it to my collection, but it won't be a regular.

Better than original Basil. Sugary and sweet, especially in the rye universe. Caramel and charred wood are the dominant flavors to my tongue. Very nice finish.

Rye is evident, as is a honey sweetness. A little pepper is evident as the rye fades. Doesn't linger on the palette. Delightfully drinkable, but it wouldn't stand out in a crowd.

Holy sweetness. I'm getting caramel and honey up front with a cinnamon like bite. These flavors weaken and linger with the sherry taking over on the finish. It is definitely a different profile, and that is not a bad thing.

Fruit (I'm getting pear) and vanilla are the first thing on the nose and tongue. A bit short on the finish, which is kind of expected with this light of a flavor palate. This is a solid bourbon, but it might do better for warm weather outside drinking.

Woody tones and vanilla are apparent early and throughout. The spice, along with a kind of smokiness, appear in the finish. This is an easy drinking rye, with nothing so special that it would stand out in a crowd.