Tastes

The nose sets the bar very high; sweet, creamy vanilla, allspice, banana muffins, caramel with chocolate. Hints of leather and raspberries. On the palate the flavor is on the back end. When it appears, it starts with a warm, buttery vanilla and caramel. Hints of licorice and tobacco before a blast of white pepper to start the finish. Finish is lasting with hints of toasted oak and cherries. I'll be honest, I didn't think the high bar set for this whiskey would be met. But, its definitely unique from the EHT line, and in a good way.

This was a blind pour in a glen avon glass from my wife without any knowledge as to what it might be. On the nose I was pleasantly surprised with a chocolatey creme brulee, with notes of caramel, sugary wheat, and hints of barrel char on a toasted oak barrel. As soon as the whiskey hit the tongue a quick note of spicy cinnamon gave way to a softer, sweeter side of raspberries and thick cream. Oh do I love this taste in a whiskey and it's hard to find. As the palate rounded out, notes of buttery vanilla, caramel, and tobacco shine. After swallowing, the finish is very viscous and pleasant with oak, sweetened crisped wheat and a touch more cinnamon. Whatever this was, I was sold. I wanted more and I thought, this is one of the better bourbons I've ever tasted. Glad to be told it was something as special as the 2019 WLW.

Nose is a beautiful array of fresh cut oak, peanuts, plums, a slight black pepper spice, and coffee. Th palate delivers with cherries up front, then earthy tones of sweet tobacco and leather, cinnamon and rye spice before delivering on a wonderful, oily finish of sweet toasted oak and spicy black pepper. I just can't get over how well this bourbon delivers.

On the nose almonds, rye, sweet corn, chocolate and black pepper wake you up. Upon tasting, it has a bit of a dusty start. Raisins, fruity wine, slight peanuts and potpourri round out a nice floral-y palate before going down. After swallowing, toasty oak notes, sweet nuttiness (walnuts), leather and tobacco surface. The finish hangs around with an oily mouthfeel while not stinging your tongue. This is an enjoyable discussion bourbon for sure.

On the nose, strong notes of butterscotch, vanilla and toasted oak mixed with fainter notes of chocolate covered oranges and strawberry jam. Very pleasant. The palate starts out with creamy caramel and vanilla before fading to more floral and citrusy notes like rose and lemon. The finish is rather muted for a 100 proof bourbon that is well-aged, but what does come to expression is a new oak and barrel char, leather and earthy tobacco notes. A few drops of water bring the oak more forward in the palate and sweeten the bourbon with more vanilla notes. A cinnamon spice presents itself in the finish. Overall, it's great bourbon. Its unique like the rest of the decanter series, but this one just doesn't stand out clearly like the 13 year and 14 year.

Nose is incredible - sweet wheat, cake frosting, raspberries, spicy, new oak. Palate - sweet wheat, hints of corn, milk chocolate and dark fruit before a powerful punch of cinnamon and rye spice with hints of black licorice. This finish lingers forever and the aftertaste is a sugary, toasted oak that persists after several sips of water. This is my second bottle. The first one was mediocre at best. It reminded me of a cigar and licking a leather couch. This bottle has completely changed my mind. I'm blown away at the sweet complexity of this bourbon. I know the hype that surrounds it is sometimes frustrating, but this is great stuff even if it ever starts sitting on the shelves.

Nose is oakier than expected for a NAS bourbon. Includes hints of sawdust, corn and vanilla. Palate blends a sweet, buttery caramel and maple. As the bourbon progresses on the palate, hints of the rye spice show up before transitioning into the sweet corn/black pepper finish. Overall, a solid bourbon for the price. I'm sold as a daily drinker.

Nose is nutty, almonds with a toasted oak. Tasting the palate starts with a domination of rose and clove mixed in with a bitey rye spice. The bourbon finishes with an overwhelming corn presence that skirts on the realm of flintstones vitamins. This just does not do it for me.

This is really good bourbon, and not just because of the cost. The nose is very floral, with hints of caramel, almost Werther's Candy-like. The Wether's is more expressed in the palate, with other notes of vanilla and toffee. It's very sweet, but in a good way. The sweetness continues in the finish, but mixes well with the oak that just barely gets expressed before fading away.

I thought I was going to reserve the 5 star rating for Bookers 30th, but here we are again. Raise the glass slowly at a tilt, breathe in with the nose. You'll smell a smell so wonderful that they make candles out of it. It smells like a rickhouse with vanilla candles scattered throughout. The palate extends fully on the spectrum: berries and cream, tobacco, butterscotch with a slight hint of citrus. The finish hits every note perfectly with a long, warm oak and raspberry finish. Oily mouthfeel to keep it going. This is Four Roses version of Craft Your Perfect Bourbon and they hit the nail right on the head. It's perfect.