Tastes

Wow. Warm, cozy maple sugar sweetness on the nose. Akin to opening a bag of caramel corn. This reaches every corner of the mouth and coats it in blanket of buttery goodness. Caramel, cinnamon, smoke and oak. Rich and sweet all the way down. Comfort bourbon. If it gets better than this, I’ve yet to find it.

Drinks much lighter than the ABV. Brown sugar and maple on the nose. Deep caramel sweetness body. Some woody and nuttiness comes out to make for a long, intense finish. I typically go neat. A think this benefits from ONE ice cube.

I’ve been hearing a lot about this one lately. Looking forward to trying for the first time. Nose: Immediately impressed with the nostril punch this brings @ such a low proof. Sweet vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and ethanol. Palate: Continuation of some vanilla and caramel. Cinnamon roll vibes are complimented by a coat of nuttiness that makes for a really solid mouthfeel. Yum. Finish: Medium in length leaving warmth on the tongue and a moderate hug on the way down. Caramel and cinnamon leave a lasting impression. In my humble opinion, this is twice the bourbon we had last night at less than half the cost. I’ll be getting a bottle of this for sure, especially at less than $30.

Nose: A bit weak for me. Some vanilla, oak, and baking spices. Body: Thin bodied, slightly sweet. There is a nice little tickle on the tongue that starts with the body and stays with you the whole way. Finish: Some cinnamon comes into play on the back end for me. It doesn’t heat up as much as I’d like. This bourbon is by no means a “hugger”. I tried this for the first time a couple weeks and found myself unimpressed. It still hasn’t won me over anymore. It’s not bad, just not my jam! 2/5

Nose: Cherry, vanilla, brown sugar, some corn. Smells like it might bite but not hard enough to scare you away! Body: Yummy. I’ve seen a couple of you calling it cherry cola. I think an even better comparison would be the Dr. Pepper Cream sodas I’ve been drinking lately. The cherry flavor is definitely there along with a crisp, creamy mouthfeel. Slightly Smokey as well. Finish: There’s some spice up front that quickly fades into a pleasant, woody sweetness that makes a lasting impression. My best comparison: black walnut ice cream

Eagle Rare has been a long time favorite of mine. I only wish it was as easy to find as other bottles in that $30 range. But hey, they call it “rare” for a reason. Sweet oak, vanilla, and some citrus on the nose. Very approachable and welcoming for aficionados and newcomers alike. The sweetness carries over into the palate with a delicious blend of rich honey, caramel, and chocolate candy. The honey notes I pick up on in the palate get even better on the finish. It definitely warms up but doesn’t get “hot” my any stretch of the imagination. I love this pour. It’s a mainstay in my collection and something I reach for whenever I’m craving a rich, easy drinker. (So yeah, all the time.) 4.5/5

Nose: The best way I can describe this beauty is a Cherry Pillsbury Toaster Strudel. Rich cherry and dessert sweetness with a faint smokiness. Body: The nose notes are represented well on the palate. Rich caramel makes a strong showing, along with a dash of spice (but more of a cinnamon and less of a ‘rye spice’) Finish: What little “spice” the body has initially dissipates into smooth toasted bread and tofeeish flavor before turning into a pleasant warmth of rye spice and oak on the top of the tip of the tongue.