Tastes

This is just too heavy on the rye. The finish is spicy and hangs on for a while. Definitely not my cup of tea. This would be better served as a mixer

My wife drags me to a lot of wineries, and port has become a friend. Putting good bourbon in port barrels is a great idea, and most importantly, it works. On the nose i pick up familiar bourbon smells, vanilla and caramel, but also has notes of the port. I like to leave small amounts to absorb on the front of my tongue before swallowing. Good stuff. The sweetness hangs all the way to the end, making you want another sip. Will this appeal to all bourbon drinkers? I doubt it, but this bourbon lover loves it.

The French oak give it a smoother, but spicier up front taste with vanilla and caramel right behind it. The finish is long, too long. I definitely prefer regular Makers, but wouldn't pass it up if someone offered a dram.

As a Tennessee whiskey it isn't bad, but it says bourbon on the label, and that is how it's being judged. It's sweet, tastes of vanilla and burnt sugar, not very complex. That burnt sugar really hangs on at the end, but at 90 proof it doesn't burn like i thought it would, probably due to the charcoal filtering. It's better than Jack Daniels, but falls on it's face against entry level bourbon

I really don't like the taste of this, but the bottle looks cool.

It smells better than it tastes. The finish is like smoking half a pack of Kools

Vanilla, honey, orange peel, what's not to love? Maybe the price.

A more refined version. The toffee and vanilla is a bit more pronounced, the rye is a bit more present, and the back side is smoother. Definitely worth the extra few dollars

Sweet, vanilla, orange on the nose. A bit of spice, more vanilla, caramel, oak on the palet. It lingers, but not too long, a creaminess that is devoid of ethanol found in a lot of bourbons. This is a regular visitor in my home. I drink it neat unless it's a hot muggy evening, then I add a small cube of ice. A favorite under $50

Nose is very light, almost undetectable. Taste isn't complex, mostly sweet, vanilla, a hint of butterscotch with no ethanol burn. Finish is short and sweet. Very easy to drink straight, and would be a great entry level bourbon for beginners. I highly recommend it.