Tastes

Char. Graham Cracker. Oak. Surprisingly not hot for being 120 proof. This is a very interesting and complex bourbon. Easily the best Parker's Heritage release over the last few years. Update: I'm revisiting this almost 2 years later. Now I'm tasting some peanut and some funk. While I don't have it next to me to compare this reminds me somewhat of Booker's 2020-01 Granny's Batch.

Begins with strawberry. Then herbal. Finishes with pipe tobacco. At first I didn’t love this but it grew on me the more I drank it. Weller Antique 107 wins easily in a side by side tasting even after adding water to dilute it to a similar proof. Overall this is alright but it doesn’t deserve the hype that it receives.

Banana. Slight vanilla. Touch of spice. Very well balanced and smooth.

Compared to 2017 this is smokier and dryer. Toasted oak in the nose. Campfire is the predominant flavor. Marshmallow and rye spice in the finish. Overall I find this to be a bit on the dry side and it would benefit greatly from just a little more sweetness. Barrel 20H1757. Proof 110.2.

Banana. Graham cracker. Apple crisp. Char.

Medium sweetness. Caramel. Corn. Oak in the finish. I really wish this was about 10 proof higher.

Rye. Caramel. Eucalyptus. Slight bandaid. I was hesitant to purchase this because of the mixed reviews. This turned out to be a pretty solid Canadian rye.

Cherry cola. Leather. Caramelized sugar and oak in the finish. This is so thick and chewy that it coats the inside of your mouth. I enjoyed the neck pour of this much more than the neck pour of batch 9, but batch 9 was absolutely incredible after it had some time to open up. This is smooth and balanced. I will update my review after it has some more time to open up.

Honey. A touch of citrus. Black pepper and rye in the finish. Doesn't burn at all for 117.1 proof. Very good mouthfeel. Long lasting finish. Similar to the 117.3 proof but less sweet tobacco. Select by State of NH in 2018. Proof 117.1.

Heat. Alcohol burn. After adding water cherry and maple come through. Flavors of maple syrup and pancakes. I did not enjoy the neck pour but after revisiting it several months later it had transformed into one of the best bourbons I've had. 131.9 Proof