Tastes

Golden in color. Nose of sweet corn and maple/caramel with a bit of ethanol, bits of spicy rye and tobacco. Very smooth with a whiff of heat, strong rye and toasted oak, comfortably warm with lasting caramel and oak finish.

The bottle had a layer of dust and significant force was required to open the twist off top. Looked over for awhile, I let this one sit for a minute. The color is a darker Golden with relatively quick legs for the proof. The initial nose is ethanol but after sitting becomes more of a Apple/pear with slight caramel. The palate starts with a bit of sour sweetness and evolves with caramel vanilla and slight oak on the end. The finish is a lasting apple sweetness this being the first opening of the bottle.

Very different... medium amber color, slow legs. Nose of butterscotch (initially thought butter, milk chocolate and oddly salt) with ethanol. Palate of cooked pears, leather and hints of caramel on the finish that lingers into ripe banana and butterscotch again. Virtually no spice but has a mild ethanol burn on the back of the tongue and throat. I suspect an ester from their unique yeast combines with the oak char to yield the unique butterscotch. For the uniqueness will likely keep it on hand and turn to it again when campfire weather comes.

Medium amber, medium body. Nose is spicy at first, almost like cedar and maple. There may be some slight oak and cherries. Palate is pepper, leather and a subdued sweetness with a stinging rye in the mouth and ethanol on the throat. There is mild lingering sweet cherry and slight floral finish. It is not overly complex but provides something akin to a numbing effect from the spice and ethanol which are very well balanced.

Golden color and medium body. The nose is predominantly sweet. Scent reminds me of caramel with subtle spice, more cinnamon than pepper with a hint of ethanol. Taste is again sweet up front with hints of oak, leather and something like cherries with a floral, caramel finish that lasted one minute or two. Another 10 proof is desired but in no way is this not a bargain. Would I hunt forever for it? No. I will always grab one off the shelf if it appears though!

At this price point ($55) I'm not sure there's much out there I would consider better. Like other uncut, unfiltered bourbons the flavors just linger. The first few sips are spicier with the burn of ethanol. Tasting again brings more leather and sweater, warmer flavors. Eventually vanilla shows up with a dance of other flavors that last, and last. You could pay far more and scour release lines and not find any better.

The phenol makes it magic. On the nose it can be almost overwhelming. On the palate... well after 3 or 4 sips the topical anesthetic effect kicks in. The flavor is heavy peat through and through with perhaps a bit of leather. Not feeling your tongue quite as well after a dram makes for an experience, even if you're not a fan of heavy peat.

Full disclosure, ER is what got me into bourbon neat. This is a bottle 50% gone, around 6 months old... Still an approachable and enjoyable palate, easy to sip all day, easy on the wallet when it can be found. Lovely mixture of candy corn sweetness and mild oak and tobacco. The flavor lingers just a few seconds and reminds me of cotton candy and wet tobacco. Sniffing the empty glass reminds me almost of a black cavendish tobacco and sparks memories of my grandfathers pipe smoke. It is Kentucky through and through. After drinking a lot more whisk(e)y What I don’t get: - complex palate - cinnamon or strong spice (nutmeg, anise) - very much oak for a 10y - peanut (Beam) notes What I do get: - medium to light mouthfeel - no burn or bite - vanilla, floral and earthy notes - happy