Tastes

The nose is rich and deep with some wood and oil, but not a ton of complexity. The palate has an immediate spicy presence with a bitter wood backing and smoke but not a tremendous amount of char. The alcohol presence is pretty intense. There isn't a ton of complexity here unfortunately and it doesn't have a nice sweetness giving it life. It's on the spicy, mineral side like a rye. It doesn't have bad notes, but it isn't what I want. There's too much oil and blandess with too much spice. It has a hint of nuttiness that reminds me of Booker's Shiny Barrel, but it isn't as complex (not a super high bar) or toastily nutty. There's something just a tad mushrooms here that I'm not a fan of.its not bad, but it could really use some work. The quality is close to that of High West American Prarie, but the flavors go together better, so this wins out a little bit.

This smells distressingly mild and young, almost like fresh cardboard, a note of cherry blossom, and nothing else. The palate is super weak, even compared with something like Evan Williams Black. It's quite floral in a way that reminds me of Irish Whiskey and is not wholly bad, but which is out of place for a bourbon. There's a sweetness that has some minerals, an odd but of salt, and some simple syrup mixed with the flower petals. This is not an enjoyable drink, but it is certainly not the worst rendition of young bourbon - at least it has a hint of wood and some nice cinnamon carried along. It tastes faintly like bourbon and it doesn't taste terribly bad, so chalk this up as not a disaster. There's so much sweet maple here though - it's kind of like an Anejo tequila gone awry in that regard. It smells a bit too sweet and fruity, but there is some toasty barrel too. Overall, it smells like a good sweet drink. The palate is watery and young. It tastes about as old as Lonehand, but has a more traditional flavor profile. There isn't a ton happening here, but there is plenty of sweet cherry and vanilla. The cherry isn't overwhelming, but the net flavor is far from balanced. The alcohol is barely makes and the damp wood flavor lacks character. The sweetness is fine, but it is not interesting and not super hedonistic either. Overall, the flavor beats that of Lonehand simply on the grounds that it is discernably what it claims to be. Lonehand tastes a bit more interesting, but is really not tasty. Compared with Jim Beam Black Barrel, this is weaker, sweeter, and less complex. It also tastes grassier with more of a monotone alcohol and burnt grass undertone.

The flavor is sweet with wood notes that carry a little smoke. Vanilla and flowers are prominent with some fruit. The flavor balances full and refreshing. This Whisky is cheap enough to mix and decent enough to sip. Wood and vanilla take the forefront with the sweetness and tartness battling each other. Ultimately, the floral notes overtake the wood ones and the sweetness wins out in a satisfying finish that throws a little toffee into the mix. This isn't an amazing Whisky, but it changes over time and has enough richness to be a satisfying sipper. I wish the finish were not so dominated by bitter alcohol though. Compared to Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch. this bourbon is less spicy and has more of a toffee flavor as it progresses. It is also less harsh, partly due to the diminished spice and partly due to the lower ABV. Something tastes a little off at the beginning, but the sweet, woody finish is nice, so a little odd note is easy to forgive. All-told, this is a good bourbon. It's a bit watery with some icing sugar notes compared to some other Bourbons, but it has less of a cinnamon bite. Not objectionable, but not delicious. Sweet, not super deep, and mild. That all said, it is rounded and just barely sippable. Don't overlook this bourbon. It may not be that storing, but it is enjoyable. It lacks the richness of Old Forester Signature, but it is darned close in quality despite the mineral elements. Despite relative variations in flavor, the off notes of this balance those of E.H. Taylor Small Batch, making the two drinks comparable in quality. Mild compared to other Bourbons to the point that its flavor is overwhelmed by minerals. Minerals aside though, it is sweet and the flavors aren't bad. It's good for mixing, but not a great sipper. Sweet, toffee, some burn. It's tasty, but not super deep and well-rounded. When not compared directly with other bourbons, this is tasty and well-rounded rounded. Despite the relatively low ABV, this is a robust drink. What is most striking is that however good the flavors may be individually (which in this case is not excellent), they do not provide enough complexity when combined. This isn't overly meaty but it has a fair amount of wood that goes well with the earthy flavor and the vanilla and caramel sweetness. There's some spice and mineral for sure. There are some fruity notes of rich red cherry and orange, but they don't have a huge presence. There are also nutty elements with hints of almond. It's interestingly balanced but doesn't have a lot in the way of stand-out flavor. Still, it's quite good. It's a heck of a lot better than High West American Prairie. 5his has some of the same flavors as Jim Beam Original, but the age has done a lot for them and they are much more palatable now. Pretty darn good for a cheap bourbon with a balance of richness and complexity. It could be sipped neat or mixed quite easily. There's definitely more going on here than in Ezra Brooks and while it it's mellower and more muddled than Jack Daniel's, it's also less characterized by banana and also more rich. It's a really good choice, though Ezra Brooks is better for aging whiskey at home with its more pronounced flavor.

Sweeter, smokier, and more rounded than typical Jameson. The flavor is mild with a bit too much smoke, but there is a nalluring sense of cream present. It's reasonably good, but quite mild and too smokey. The fruit is a bit nondescript, though some orange marmalade stands out when you take a big sip, as does a bit of grain. It's smooth, but with such weak flavor, what would one expect? The custardy finish is a lot of fun and at this price range I'd be prepared to sip it for that gimmick. I just wish there were more flavor here and the smoke and alcohol were less pronounced. Definitely better than regular Jameson and not bad overall. Tastes very bourbony. There's a big hit of smoke and barrel spice up front and it's followed by some pretty mild flavors. It's got spices with a slight hint of tart cherry, raisin sweetness, and a lot of vanilla. It's tasty, but a bit on the weak and young side. The rye alcohol is a bit more present than I would like, but the caramel sweetness quickly jumps in to mask it. The mildness is reminiscent of Swift (regular), as is the bourbony character. Compare with Compass Box Spice Tree and Glenfiddich 14 bourbon barrel. If it had more to it, this would be a great whiskey.

Mild with some sour and bitter notes to give it life. A little woody and not at all smoky. Has a sweet, slightly floral finish that is nice and gives it sone variety. Still, it tastes a bit watered down and has enough off notes that I can't recommend it. It's pretty alcoholic and generic. There's some fruitiness and plenty of floralness, but bitterness stands in front of it waving its arms. There is no smokiness to be found, but it's plenty sweet. Digging into it, there are apples, cinnamon spiciness, some honey, and some bland cereal. The complexity is not absent, but that disgusting bitterness is absolutely overwhelming. This may be the Glenlivet 12 to Bushmill's Black Bush's Glenmorangie The Original, but that is probabaly a bit generous.

The nose has a strong hit of isopropyl alcohol. It tastes a little bit like somebody left a cigar and some lemon heads in a bit barrel of vodka. The sweetness is appreciated and the spiciness combined with the tartness does kind of suggest that it's rye, but this mostly tastes like a alcohol. It could be considered to be a good vodka, but it's a bit peaty. This is just way too mildly flavored and is too high of a proof. I wouldn't drink this unless I were looking for a more interesting substitute for vodka. The bitter undertone is unwelcome. This is a truly unique failure condition for a rye. There's definitely something a little herbal going on here, but it is hard to make out any distinct flavors over the proof. Adding some distilled water brings out some mineral flavors, but that just makes this worse. The smoke becomes more clear, which is reassuring, but not delightful. Surprisingly, it is harsher with distilled water added. There isn't really more complexity with water. This is pretty bad stuff. Maybe it would make good rocket fuel.

Sweet and floral with dominant vanilla and some underlying woody char throughout. No sign of peat. The floral sweetness, charred bitterness, and strong hit of alcohol dominate this drink. Not great, but totally drinkable. I personally prefer the more varied flavor of Jim Beam Black, but I can see the preference for Jack Daniels Single Barrel with its fewer off notes and stronger alcohol content. This lacks the depth of E.H. Taylor Single Barrel and is more obviously bitter, but it avoids the oilyness. The beginning is bitter like strong wood, which is also the flavor on the nose. The high ABV comes out immediately, hitting hard and lasting a while. Vanilla and some spices come through as it fades, along with some subdued sweetness. The flavor develops somewhat on the finish, but not as much as I would like. There's actually a lot going on here. It's light like Jim Beam Black, but with more pronounced individual flavors instead of the muddled subtleties. I get some of that Old Forester Signature cherry flavor and the Woodford Reserve banana, but without the gross side flavors. It's very clean with a lot of layers. This is a very good whiskey, far exceeding the quality of the regular Jack Daniel's and Gentleman Jack, but it isn't one of put up there with the greats like the better Booker's, Wild Turkey Rare Breed 58.4, and Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve - not to mention the legends like Old Fitz, William Larue Weller, and George T. Stagg. I'll bump it to a 15 for now, though I'm not sure that it deserves to be so high with such a light flavor.

I'd sip this, but I wouldn't love it. This is some sweet, fruity bourbon with a lot of vanilla. Confectioner's sugar is definitely present, so the flavor is a bit off, but there is enough going on here to keep it from being totally dull. Sweet is the dominant flavor, but it isn't bad. Jim Beam Black is better and only slightly more expensive. There's a decent amount of complexity here. The flavors have more punch than those of Jim Beam Black, but they also have less banana and are a bit lighter. It's a bit of a tough choice between the two, but Jim Beam has more licorice and cinnamon come out as it goes on, compensating for its initial mellowness. Also the Jim Beam has some more richness throughout. Jim Beam is definitely a better mixer. The banana from Jack Daniel's is gross in comparison.

Surprisingly floral and dominated by vanilla, this is an oddly refreshing drink. It is predominantly sweet with a little bit of smoke undertone. If that's what you want, it isn't bad, but the sweetness overpowers the traditional richness and fullness that one expects in a bourbon. There is some woodiness and then a strong floral flavor. This is by far the most floral whiskey I have tasted and while I enjoy it, its lack of depth and strong floral notes make it hard to drink much of this. The finish is long and tasty, but also quite floral. It seems good for mixing, but gets tiring quickly if drinking neat. I'm skeptical that this is as good as regular Jack Daniel's. It's sweeter and smoother, but more muddled with some of that Woodford Reserve banana (a lot, actually), but avoiding the Woodford Reserve harsh gasoline character. The dominant flavor is banana sweetness, though it is backed by a decent amount of tartness that avoids being obtrusive and some bit of corn. There are suggestions of other flavors like a tiny note of tart cherry and a hint of cocoa, but they're hard to find. It's really quite bland, though it is definitely drinkable despite the banana. In comparison, the Woodford Reserve is more full of flavor with more rich grain, smoke, and spice, but also more youthful harshness, alcohol flavor, and watery mouthfeel. They're different,but of similar quality. I might slightly prefer Gentleman Jack somehow, but that isn't particularly a compliment. That banana is way out there, but there is some spice that avoids youthful harshness and at least it's smooth. Regular Jack Daniel's has more complexity with the added rich graininess it brings. Gentleman Jack does have a bit of spice, but the regular Jack mixes its flavors nicely without leaving them muddled and it really showcases its grain in comparison. The regular Jack is richer while still being light. It shows a tad of alcohol, but not too much. Conversely, this has more sweetness with added banana and vanilla, but 5he flavor profile is out of whack. Between the two, I honestly think I prefer the regular Jack. Definitely by a point; likely not by more than two. The single barrel knocks the socks off of both of them in every way though. It is a really nice whiskey to sip. They are not.

It has a kind of strong but odd flavor. It isn't super strong on the alcohol, but it does smell a lot like butter with mineral and some spice. It tastes like spice but there is also some other weird flavor in here that I recognize from the nose but have trouble placing. It is on the sweet side and tastes a bit like prunes and cardboard. It has more to it than Tatoosh bourbon idea, but it has this gross, off flavor going on. I'd rather not sip it and it would be a weird choice for mixing too. It's an interesting drink in how unusual it is, but it isn't very good. There's definitely something with the grain going on here. Sadly, while being weird, this isn't weird in the innovative way that the Corsair Oatrage is and it doesn't taste very good either. I might mix it and there are some generically palatable sweet notes, but the whole thing is a mess of static with some weird unsatisfying backing. This is one of the most repulsive drinks I have tried. Too much alcohol, too harsh, terrible balance, off flavors. What a mess.