Tastes

Really good bourbon! Added 4/22/2023: The first, and only time, I had OF 1920 was at a pub-type restaurant last Summer. I remember liking it very much, but didn't make a note of any specifics (as you can see from my original, very brief, review). Finally bought a bottle, and here we go.... Nose: Cinnamon red hots, smoky charred oak. Palate: (Drank with a regular sized ice cube) Massive spice attack! Drinks hotter than some higher proofs I've had. Sits in your chest for a good while. The ice settles things down some, and some sweetness breaks through the spice. Cherries — or something akin to cherries — appear on the back end. Think, "cherry cough syrup". Finish: Long and dry with the familiar tongue tingle. I put this up against the 1910 tonight and, although I preferred the nose on the 1910, this 1920 checked more boxes for me. I found it more balanced and well-rounded. Will be interesting to see if, now that it's been opened, whether my rating will go up or if I detect more flavors from subsequent pours.

Tasted this at The 34° North in Beaufort, NC. They have an impressive bourbon list(!), and I decided on Bakers 7 Year (along with another which I will "review" shortly)... From what I'd read about this juice, I knew I'd like it... and I did. I don't have a lot of specifics to offer, but it hit the spot! Just enough sweet, just enough spice... and it was fairly smooth for that high a proof. Suffice to say, when I am able to locate it, I'm going to buy a bottle. Added 1/15/23: Finally got my hands on a bottle and am enjoying some tonight. Just as I remember it from last Summer... nice cherry sweetness with oak coming through, and that spicy bourbon tingle on the tongue. The 107 proof makes itself known with an initial moderate burn going down, which dissipates with time. It's a favorite. The AS is "7 Year", but this bottle has an age of 8 years, 8 months. Added 4/28/23: Getting new things from this tonight... Cinnamon red hots on the nose, and some tart apples, more cinnamon and nuttiness on the palate. This is how it goes with me. More comes forward the longer the bottles is open.

Yummy. That's my review! Added 10/22/22: I need to add more to my review, because this Rare Breed deserves it.... Leathery and cherry nose; Sweet and spicy palate with that classic bourbon "tingle" on the tongue. Speaking of the tongue, it's rich, creamy and oily; Finish is nice and long with more spice and a little burn/warmth in the chest. Changing my rating from 3.5 to 3.75 Added 1/7/23: This stuff definitely packs a punch. Heat for miles. Hotter than Larceny Barrel Proof — which sports a solid 124.8% Proof higher.

This is not a "taste", but rather me putting out a call... To those who've had this, it seems from the reviews here that it has underwhelmed. Is this worth a try for someone who likes wheated bourbon? I've had the Trader Joe's straight bourbon, and it was actually not bad at all. If this Winter Wheat is AS good, then I'd give it a try. Thanks.

I'd heard good things about this, so I took a chance. I would say it paid off... Sweet cherry cola nose that carries over to the palate, where spice is added — not surprisingly, as it's apparently a high rye mash bill. Slight "warmth" going down, but pleasingly so. This is very good. My only "negative" is the price tag. I probably would not have purchased at the price that I did, had I been able to locate it, locally, for a cheaper price. No regrets though. I'd definitely buy again — but only if I can find it for $20 - $25 less.

Been wanting to try this expression of Maker's for a long time, and finally grabbed a bottle this afternoon... On the nose, I get oak, leather and butterscotch(???)... Palate is oh-so-sweet with more oak, cinnamon and spices... Finish is a little short with lingering spice. The warmth sits in your chest for a brief time. I expect that from all bourbons worth a damn. This is a good one, folks!

First pour... The nose was a bit heavy on the alcohol. But nothing more than, or similar to, many bottles I've had before. On the palate, I definitely get that "sweet tarts candy" reference in the expert review. Spicy, leathery, and sweet with not much burn — but I get that bitter "tingle" on the tongue that I have come to associate with most bourbons. The finish is medium with more of the same as on the palate. I love trying new Bourbons. This is a good one. Not sure, however, if it makes the top-shelf cut... but it's good, and I will enjoy finishing this bottle over the course of the next few weeks.

Saw this one appear in my grocery store's shelf about a week ago, and it intrigued me. After reading the positive review here, I decided to pull the trigger... First pour and I'm already a fan. Sweet but spicy, too. I'll attribute that to the fairly high rye % in the two mash bills. I generally don't like high rye bourbon, but this is an exception. Tastes more expensive than its price point. 7/9: Second pour... Like this even more. What drives me crazy about trying new Bourbons is not being able to pin point WHAT it is I'm tasting. Maybe it's the rye/spice... maybe be I'm a closet rye fan. Now, I want to try the other Hirsch offering (offerings?), if I can find it.

THIS is good stuff. I'm no bourbon connoisseur, but I know what I like when I taste it — and I like this very much. It's hard for me to articulate exactly what I'm tasting. But I will just say that, before having this, I had some I.H. Harper, and the difference between the two bottles is like night and day. I love both, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is I love about them. I'm getting "nuttiness" from this. That seems to be the predominant profile for my palate. Very little burn if any. Just a really smooth and enjoyable pour. I will definitely buy again when I can get a hold of another bottle. 7/29: Tonight is the first time I've had this since my first pour about a month ago... and I want to add that I am totally getting peanuts on the palate tonight. Definitely a peanutty flavor. Love it. 8/7: Poured myself some of this juice tonight, and I wanted to add to my taste that this is a bottle that just gets better with every subsequent pour. Definitely top-shelf status. Changing my rating from 3.75 to a solid 4. 3/26/23: Bought another bottle a few weeks ago, because this was an instant favorite. Getting a good dose of cloves on the nose tonight. I love this stuff. Upping my rating from 4.0 to 4.5.

Wow! Nearly 124 proof, and that is readily apparent on the nose. Strong alcohol whiff that really hit hard. But I also get walnuts (more on that soon)... Drank with an ice cube. Sweet with a moderate warm hug in the chest. The burn lingers in your chest, but soon you start tasting A LOT. I got the usual oak and leather, as well as tart cherry. But walnuts came through — and I love walnuts! Also, I got hit with a blast of spiced apples at the mid-palate. Nice. This is what I consider a "complex" bourbon. Not sure if higher proof = more complex, but in this case I'd say yes. I want to note that I've had the Larceny 92, and I was none too impressed. This B522 blows it out of the water.