Tastes

Big Y Liquor SiB store pick- 12 year old barrel (w-0 f-7)

What a strange bourbon. Every time I reach for a pour of this, my opinion of it changes, for better and for worse. The nose gives off a big alcohol burn, followed by sharp citrus. A second smell reveals Toblerone toffee/chocolate candy, salty peanuts, orange peel, some slight funk, and finally some corn... quite the bouquet of aromas emanating just from the nose. That higher proof translates into a medium burn on the tongue. The taste is rich, dominated mostly by citrus and oak, leaving a lingering smokey/charred character. This bourbon is complex, and I feel that it suffers from a lack of balance. I probably reach for this once a month and I have noticed that the bottle has opened up with some age and tastes better than it did before. Also worth noting: I bought two bottles, both labeled the same batch. The other bottle has a strange acetone/varnish quality that this bottle does not. In sum, this is an extremely interesting bourbon that will certainly stand out on your shelf. For some that might be a good thing... for others, not so much. If I had to guess, this is either a Heaven Hill or Beam sourced product. The Toblerone note reminds me of Rittenhouse Rye, while the funky peanut note reminds me of Beam.

$25. Something like a rich, chocolate-covered peanut candy bar upfront, followed by a bit of varnish, and finishing with smooth floral and rye notes that round out the rich flavors. Nothing like MGP-style ryes.

'16 bottling: Strong oak character, joined by cinnamon and pepper notes, followed later by rich and decadent cupcake frosting. Mouthfeel is round and juicy upfront followed up by a dry finish. 4/5 stars but leaves A LOT to be desired from the $120+ price tag. Would feel much better about paying $50-80 for this one.

Pretty solid for the price paid ($18) but it's a bit hot and messy. The initial nose is fantastic, but after sitting and opening up for a bit, those wonderful rye notes (mint, anise, dill) start to fade and give way to the young and unrefined nature of this whiskey, resulting in a strong alcoholic presence that overwhelms the palate. The mouthfeel is also fairly thin. Would love to try this one side by side with Dickel Rye for comparative purposes. Unlike its Bourbon counterparts (Ezra 90 proof and 7 year 101), this one doesn't really punch above its price point. For a sub-$20 bottle of MGP-sourced Rye though, it won't leave you disappointed.