Tastes

Nose: sweet, slightly smoky with corn and slight ethanol Palate: hints of honey and butterscotch Finish: smooth with little warmth. A sweeter and less nutty, slightly bolder version of what I get from Evan Williams black label. Rough around the edges and only slightly better than the mainstream Jim Beam white label. I’d imagine it’s a blend of 4-8 year bourbons since it lost the 8-year age statement awhile back. Not bad for what it is. Easy to sip just not as balanced as other bourbons in the same age range.

Balanced from start to finish, this is my any-day bourbon. It is easy to drink neat, can be great in cocktails, and a fantastic price MSRP for what you’re getting. Nose: bright with caramel, butterscotch, fruity. Palate: moderately rich with vanilla and spice. Finish: some warmth with rye cinnamon spice. Goes great with a cigar. Store selects of these bottles can be very good and I’ve scored those higher in the past.

The app rating on this is laughable. 79...not close. This discontinued bourbon is fantastic. Especially at the price point it once was sold. From the honey and sweet corn nose to the spicy oak finish, an underrated bourbon if there ever was. Nose: honey, mint, tea, oak, butterscotch Palate: rich with more butterscotch, spicy vanilla, hints of toffee Finish: not too brittle, not too creamy; quite balanced for a bottom shelf whiskey This was a hidden gem in Kentucky until they discontinued it. A shame.

Nose: sweet with butterscotch, corn Palate: much more spicier than the nose Finish: rich and warm Lots of spice in this one. It’s a richer and spicier WT101, stronger obviously, so if it’s your thing...

Nose: mint, honey, chocolate-covered cherries, baking spices Palate: bright but rich, more mint and honey, sweet tea, baking spices Finish: mint still there, but additional toffee flavors. Some warmth. The mint is strong after the bottle has been opened a month or so. Interesting change. Not as top-shelf as original tasting (4.5 rating), but great nonetheless. Surprising.

Nose: rich and decadent with toffee, cherries, butterscotch, sweet corn Palate: just as rich, some orange zest, more butterscotch, baking spices Finish: one of the most balanced finishes you’ll find; smooth and rich, vanilla spices and more sweet corn Eagle Rare is one of the best all around bourbons at the MSRP price level. Nothing more nothing less

Nose: nutmeg, butterscotch, oak, tea, honey, rye Palate: cinnamon and a little vanilla, less complex than the nose, but still quite good Finish: more spice comes through with decent warmth at the end A creamier Wild Turkey, and even though the proof is halfway between the 81 and 101 it has enough nuances to stand apart from WT in a good way.

I’m going to be real with you: I can barely tell a difference between this and Old Forester 1910. Which is fine because I really enjoy 1910 & this is a little bit cheaper in a lot of places. Nose: leather and oak, apricot, toffee, sweet bbq sauce Palate: honey, apple, slightly less rich than the OF1910 but not bad. Finish: vanilla spices and very little burn at all. It’s not as in your face as OF 1910 and a bit more refined. Both are great bourbons.

Batch: C918 Age: 12 Year: 2018 Proof: 131 Nose: toffee, biscuits, candied nuts Palate: rich with hints of baking spices, and vanilla Finish: very smooth for the high proof. Probably the smoothest bourbon above 125 I’ve ever had. The only bite comes from the proof level and definitely not the recipe; this is a 10% rye mashbill. Slightly bitter at the end. Overall excellent.

Recipe: OESV Age: 9 Year: 2018 Proof: 126 Store pick: Evergreen (Louisville, Kentucky) Nose: molasses, toffee Palate: rich, with butterscotch, cinnamon, vanilla Finish: falls a little flat compared to the excellent nose and palate