Tastes

Light peat and minerality on the nose, and surprisingly hot for an 80 proof. Given the 4 different oak sources, the palate disappoints me. It's sweet, smoky, minerally, a hint of vanilla but kind of flat. The finish is short with some peat and mineral remaining. It's a fine whisky, just disappointing.

When I first cracked this bottle it had the typical Larceny profile, but with a big tannic oak bomb. Now it's had time to round out into an excellent pour. The oak is still very much present but not overbearing. The nose leads with oak and rich caramel. The oak, rich caramel contiue to the palate with cinnamon and baking spice. The proof and spice are present as it dances across my tongue. The cinnamon, oak, and caramel linger into the finish before some tannic drying comes in.

Got this as part of an Old Forester whiskey row sample set on clearance. The nose has a medicinal cherry flavor which continues into the palate. The palate also has caramel, light Old Forester banana and some oak, then some rich dried dark and light fruit flavors. The fruit flavors linger onto the palate. The second barrelling contribes a richness that makes seem closer to the flavors of a cask strength rather than a 93 proofer.

Not sure the age on this, bottle says at least 3 years. Got it on clearance at the ABC store. The nose is light young wood and sweetness. These continue to the palate adding in a mix of rye spice, some citrus, and generic fruit notes. The finish is short and pleasant. Not sure I'd pay retail for this, but at the clearance price it's a steal.

The nose has light sweet fruit notes followed by young woodiness, almost pine-like. On the palate, there is a bit of young graininess, the woodiness from the nose, mixed in with the sweet fruit notes like apricot. The finish is short, but overall the pour is a pleasant summer-like sipper.

The nose comes across as hot at first, but once you get past that I get sweet and fruity notes followed by some light wood. The sweetness, fruit, and light wood carries over to the palate with a little earthiness. The heat from the nose is non-existent on the palate, this drinks smooth. The sweet fruit remains after the sip is gone. It's a pleasant rye, low on the spice notes but certainly a good deal for the price.

While it's a young bourbon (minimum of 2 years in the hot Texas summers), it is not lacking in rich flavors. The nose has mix of young green wood and musky old oak. Together they mix with sweet candy, vanilla, and caramel notes and a hint of potpourri. When combined, it reminds me of an indoor area of a local plant nursery from my childhood. On the palate, the young wood is there but not overbearing, some alcohol heat (again from the youth) is present, followed by that same candy sweetness from the nose. The light notes linger a good bit after the sip. Given how young this is, it's a really goos bourbon.

This is going to come across as a brief review, since I'm having trouble pulling out distinct notes. But the nose and front palate have light yet distinct fruit notes typical of brandy/cognac I've briefly had. The back end of the palate has the roasty grainy malted barley note I've picked up on in the few American single malts I've had. Not my typical cup of tea, yet a very pleasant and inoffensive pour.

Nose is light and sweet with surprisingly no ethanol burn despite the proof. Palate is thin with sweet notes mixed with light wood finishing with a bit of caramel. Not a bad pour, but disappointing given that I expected more from it. Blind I would score it slightly higher, but it's dragged down due to price leading to higher expectations. I've seen some reviews absolutely killing this bottle. While I don't think it's anywhere near worth the cost, it's not a terrible pour. For the price I'd expect something more complex. But it is what it is. Of the lineup my preference was premium >> reserve >> signature. Strange how the "entry level" offering was the best and most complex of the lot.

A very pleasant entry level bourbon. The nose isn't strong but it's pleasant. The palate is sweet and fruity with notes of orange from an old fashioned coming our strongest to me.