Tastes

Light amber in the glass with sparse, slow legs. Aroma of caramel, raisins, oak and tobacco after 10m in the glass. Initially was more peanuts and red hots with corn sweetness... this from a freshly opened bottle mind you. Palate starts soft and smooth with a creamy mouthfeel and gradually warms like a naturally aspirated engine revving to around 8,000. A tingling spice comes along for the ride - something like allspice and dare I say mint. The finish is medium-long and resembles sour mash, tobacco and allspice. For a $25-30 lower shelf bottle in most stores I’ll agree that this beats many $44-50 bottles found higher on the shelf and offers a similar complexity and finish. The main difference is the way the allspice notes tingle the throat and nasopharynx. Might turn some off but for fans of BiB and higher proofs you should grab and share this one. I don’t do many cocktails but I suspect this would also make a wonderful Kentucky Mule, Old fashion or Manhattan. Would definitely buy again and put up against Old Forster for fans of that distillery.

Full disclosure - this is a review of wild turkey but not off the shelf. The juice was obtained by a friend and I have nowhere else to review it so here are my thoughts. I’m short it’s like I had spearmint and bubble gum next to each other in my poker and now I’m chewing bubblegum and wondering why it tastes so funky... —————- Color is just damn yellow. Legs are plentiful, super skinny and fast. Nose in the glass is alcohol, alcohol, alcohol and corn >>> rye. Vanilla as I pull my nose away. Palate is isn’t as hot as expected and is sweet-corn with a bit of butter and heap of granulated sugar in the back end. There’s some minty spice buried in there but it’s fleeting. There’s little complexity and for being allegedly barrel proof the finish is short, a bit acidic and forgettable. My guess is this is young juice, 3y or less. Likely 85% or more corn but this could be b.s. I want to love this due to the backstory (all a bit shady I’ll admit) but I don’t know that I can. I’m not well versed in WT but I am a Russel’s fan and I can’t believe how far apart these really are. It was a great gift but not one I’ll be asking for a repeat of.

This was a Liquor Barn 11 year store pick, aged in a Bardstown rick house. Amber-orange in color. Many closely grouped, thin, quick legs that just keep coming. Nose deep in the glass I get quite a bit of rye at first pour. Pulling back a bit I get more corn and honey sweetness, oak and floral notes with a hint of mint. Oak starts to predominate the longer it sits in the glass. Initial taste is something between dark honey and caramel with candied apples, nutmeg and oak. Finish is medium to long, mildly warm and a balanced mixture if baking spice and candies fruit. This could be a house bourbon....

Liquor Barn - Lexington KY fall 2019 pick. Nose of maple, candied cherries and tobacco. Cherry cola, spearmint, red hots and oak all dance on the tongue. Finish is fruity and vanilla oak, medium to long. Solid pick and would become a staple if it could be reproduced.

I never had a chance to taste the 13y BiB but from reading descriptions it seems that the two bottlings don’t differ substantially. If so maybe the 2y difference in age is was partly negated by a few hotter TN summers... anyway, enough speculation. The nose resembles roasted pecans and a wonderful vanilla frosted cinnamon roll. The palate lands with sweetness and then a big kick of cinnamon spice. There’s mid-sip heat and a mouth coating feeling. The finish is medium or longer with notes of oak, charcoal, spice, maple and tobacco. In ways the finish reminds me a bit of the earthy Eagle Rare 10y finish. Definitely a winner and hopefully becomes easier to find.

Bottle has been open for a few weeks and the profile seems to have changed a bit. Now mirrors the 9yr age statement Mexican fried ice cream-cinnamon flare with less ethanol and more oak. Definitely an easier sipper than the 120 proof. Probably worth the $20 premium over 9yr statement but would likely still take a comparable age in a barrel pick instead and save a few dollars. On the plus side it’s widely available - but then again so is bookers which gives a longer finish and richer mouthfeel. Regardless, this is dang good and I regret nothing.

Freshly opened bottle - the nose is immediately oak, creme brûlée and earthy notes resemble the of the Beam peanut shell funk. There’s a tickle of ethanol as well but not the eye burning single barrel effect being 20 proof lower. No sting up front, just soft oak and sweetness with heat and a bit of candies cherries and slight cinnamon kick on the end (which more closely resembles the mid-palate 9 year age statement single barrel). It has more of the floral, oak and leather tones than its 9yr age statement sibling. For the price I think I prefer the heat and spice of the younger sib but this is still a good sipper and likely take enough to please the masses. For the price would take Bookers any day of the week though.

Nose is sweet and sour like an apple pie before going in the oven. No real oak or chat on the nose. Thin but incredibly smooth. Fruity, slightly sour and oak on the tongue with a hint of heat and spice on the finish. Very straightforward, very easy sipper. At the price point this would go well vs Buffalo trace or a four roses single barrel for those who are into that sort of thing... As time goes on I’m liking this more and more. A lot of classic bourbon flavor with virtually zero burn. There are sweet caramel, oak and spice notes. Really nothing not to like about this one. A higher proof, non-chill filtered version might show its true colors but why bother! This is just flat out pleasant to drink neat all day long...

Thin quick legs and light amber. Nose on a very old, misty empty bottle is a bit like whole grain pancakes and maple syrup. There’s a hint of oak and mint with some ethanol on the end. It’s smooth. Lightly toasted oak, caco and maple come through. There’s a tinge of something like leather on the end. It’s an interesting and easy palate to sip but not overly complex or satisfying. Good for beginners and can’t imagine mixing it into much... kind of like the wheated equivalent of Basil Hayden.

Nose is sweet with vanilla, sour mash and baking spices. A bit hot on the palate with heavy barrel char, oak, leather, cinnamon and pepper with a relatively short earthy/spicy finish. Seems a bit unique. Not a personal favorite but if not for the rarity could consider paying MSRP but not much above.