Tastes

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.

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 off the map.

Molasses on the nose, as well as slight alcohol; Sweet palate with apple and some spices. Slight burn going down, but nothing too bad; short finish. Overall, a good bourbon at this price. Reminds me a little of the EW 1783, if my memory serves. My bottle's info: Barrelled on 12/20/13 Barrell # 159 Bottled on 1/28/21 10/15/22: I feel it important to add to my taste: I just finished my last bottle of EW SB.... I followed up with some Blanton's. I'll be damned if it's not as good as the latter!

Bought the little sample bottle shown in my pic before committing to a full 750 ml. bottle. Good thing... This is a good bourbon. It's got a nice complexity to it. It tastes "elevated" to me. BUT... it's not destined to be a top shelf bottle. I was not aware, until recently, that Four Roses is a high rye bourbon — and high rye ain't my thing. Too spicy for me. I like sweeter wheated bourbon — bourbon with a smaller rye % at the very least. 3.0 for being "good". Just not for me.

This stuff is just not very good at all. That's why I bought a small sample bottle and not a full-size 750 ml. bottle... I just didn't trust it enough. Hint of cinnamon on the nose, but too much emphasis on the burn with not much flavor — aside from a strange medicinal flavor that reminded me of something I was given in my childhood. I love bourbon, and I try and appreciate what all distilleries have to offer. But this is just not good. Too young at a 2-year age statement, perhaps.

This was an unexpected purchase, and sometimes, it's good to be spontaneous. This is decent bourbon. It doesn't stand out to me in any particular way, but it's good.... Ripe cherries and vanilla on the nose; sweet on the palate with apples and spices — slight burn going down, but nothing too severe; finish is medium with oak and lingering spice... even a little peanut! Will I buy again? Perhaps. But at the moment, there are too many other bottles I want to try before I even have the inclination.

I received a little bottle of this Scotch Whiskey in my Christmas stocking last year. Finally got around to giving it a try... It pretty much confirms that I am a bourbon drinker, and don't care much for Scotch — though I've had some that I actually enjoyed (McCallan 12, and Glenfiddich 15). This one just tastes to me like drinking a stale cigar butt that I found in a musty basement.

Right off the bat, I got big molasses on the nose; Sweet, rich and oily on the palate; Oak on the finish. Very smooth and easy sipper. Added 11/19/22: Like many bourbons, tastes evolve over time and subsequent pours. I'm getting lots of cinnamon and pepper on the palate tonight. Nice!