Tastes

Nose: Delicious mixture of vanilla, cherries, caramel, and sweet corn - classic! Palate: more vanilla and creamed corn mixed with some pepper spice and a nice oily mouthfeel - again, classic! Finish: the spice continues through the finish, a tab bit of licorice, and leaves your mouth a bit dry - kind of let down from the nose and palate, but far from a disappointment Overall: I think the 15 year has a leg up on this, but this is as classic a bourbon as it gets and is thoroughly enjoyable

Nose: getting a big whiff of baking spices, along with some nutmeg, and then some slight citrus notes with a underlay of spice, which then gives way to some red hots the more it opens up - off to a fantastic start (reminds me of the old Baker's 7yr Small Batch) Palate: the spice and red hots bubble up to the top at the front of the palate, with vanilla cinnamon and black pepper coming in the middle and back - A surprisingly thin mouthfeel and there is not as much burn as you would expect from the proof Finish: the spice carries through to the finish, along with the baking spices making another appearance and then some licorice towards the very end - again, a surprisingly smooth finish with less burn than the proof would suggest. Overall: a absolutely great value at the price, but not the best bottle out there at this proof (that honor goes to Noah's Mill).

Nose: immediately get some of those pepper, fruity, and licorice notes from the rye, with a subtle undercurrent of vanilla - surprisingly muted given the proof Palate: the black pepper hits quick and heavy right away, some of the licorice also carries through from the nose. Further to the back you get some vanilla and baking spices - almost drinks more like a rye than a bourbon Finish: The spice lingers on the fairly long finish, with a nice "Kentucky hug" all the way down your chest, but surprisingly not much burn - very pleasant and would be perfect on a cold night

Nose: lots of oats and cereal notes with some light drizzles of honey on top - off to a good start! Palate: the grain notes continue with the cereal becoming apparent again, this time with some chocolate and almond notes making an appearance - definitely enjoyable Finish: disappointingly short, but not unpleasant. Notes are somewhat muted, but there is some oakiness that comes through most prominently - wish this was more complex

Nose: chocolate covered berries and honey - very enticing Palate: starts off with some caramel and vanilla with some spice and grains flowing through towards the back - ok, bit of a let down from the nose Finish: nice slow burn with a good amount of oak spice, but then turns into licorice and black pepper at the very end - not a fan Overall: may have to revisit, had heard such good things about this pour, but in the end it is not quite to my liking

Nose: spearmint, cinnamon apples, licorice, herbal - unique and delicious Palate: licorice, herbal, vanilla, pepper spice - classic rye turned up to 100 Finish: surprisingly quick, but then lingers - spice leaves a somewhat dry mouthfeel Overall: everything that you love about a rye, but just dialed in to its absolute best

Barrel #000228522, age 7 years 4 months Nose: cherries, cinnamon red hots, vanilla - intriguing Palate: creamed corn, oak, more cherries - average Finish: somewhat thin, slight oak - very short

Nose: buttered popcorn, vanilla, caramel - delicious! Palate: black pepper spice, oak, cherries - silky Finish: butter popcorn (again!), somewhat dry - totally pleasant

Nose: vanilla, cherries, brown sugar - classic Palate: oak spice, dried fruit, cinnamon - tasty Finish: oak spice, cream - a little too short