Tastes

Fruity notes of apple and peach on the nose are buried under the peat, with a hint of pepper. On the palate the whiskey feels light but comes with rich flavors of pear or apple followed by a salt-soaked cereal flavor that coats the tongue Most of the finish is pear, with a return of the black pepper from the nose. Not smooth but not rough either, a sort of dry smokiness leaves the tongue tingling.

Raisins, toffee, Oak, and leather produce a classic bourbon nose overall, followed by tangy citrus and caramel on the palate, with a smoldering warmth down the throat on the finish. I wouldn’t call it a burn, but there’s a gentle heat that’s just right. Easy bottle to grab for a killer couch pour, great value, and it’ll likely be pitted against some stuff competition in my next tasting with friends.

Tobacco, cherry, vanilla, and a dried fruit (I can’t put my finger on it) come through on the nose. Oak and honey dominate the palate in a balanced way. The finish is medium in length, and a hint of raw corn is followed immediately by more tobacco. Incredibly smooth for 117 proof.

Vanilla, orange, and lemon on the nose, with a little note of cinnamon on the tail end. In the mouth this whiskey is oily and thick, and it floods the tongue with oak and black peppercorn. A fair amount of heat on the finish-this pour sips like it is closer to 115proof. If you find that you like this bottle it’s a killer value-a 13 year BiB for sub-$40.

Batch B519: Oakey/citrusy on the nose, with plenty of ethanol. Sit for five minutes and the ethanol dissipates mostly, allowing some vanilla to join the party. Apple and pear on the palate, then a big hit of toffee and oak round out the palate. Dry, even considering the proof. Medium finish with some oak and spice, and a very dry mouthfeel on the tail end.

Lots of alcohol at first, but after resting ten minutes the scents of bananas and butterscotch shine through, with a few faint notes of oak. On the palate the butterscotch melts to a vanilla note that hits the tongue first, with some sweet berries following, ending in a hint of spice that rounds out the flavor. A thick, full (but not sticky) mouthfeel sets up the foundation for a lasting finish that takes nearly a minute to unfold fully. Excellent balance, and an especially tasty pour for those who are already Old Forester fans.

Orange peel and pecan pie on the nose, with hints of vanilla. On the palate the vanilla hits first, followed by a cinnamon and brown sugar note and a finish that is nutty and oakey but not dry in texture. Delicious bourbon, although the price point seems a little high for what it is ($50 seems more apt).

Delicious sweet fruits on the nose-strawberries and blackberries, a little citrus. The taste is more of a classic flavor with sweet caramel mixing with the berries in an oily mouthfeel that coats the tongue. Medium finish with a hint of oak and a citrus note that clings to the roof of the mouth. Excellent whiskey for the money, I’d even pay up to 60 for this bottle.

Burnt sugars and alcohol are the first things to spring to the nose from this glass, but after that the burnt sugar dissipates into some earthier notes that remind me of clay. The taste is more burnt sugar, almost like a marshmallow that’s been charred and then consumed. Toward the tail, a few notes of cocoa can be coaxed out with the aid of a dropper if water. My tasting group nicknamed this whiskey “a burnt smore in a glass”. While it is an interesting whiskey, it is not particularly tasty.

Fruit, apples and pears. Tobacco and leather in the finish. Have tried thrice and still not loving it. Cannot tell if it is truly unexceptional or if the flavors just don’t jive with me personally. Update (1 month later): still fruity on the nose, mostly apples and pears although a hint of peach may be faintly present. More peach, some cinnamon and spice on the palate. A long, somewhat generic finish with hints of tobacco. Not impressive, but not unlikeable either.