Tastes

Bottle pour at home, neat, into a Glencairn. Lucked into the bottle at the Seven Corners ABC, sitting in the corner nearly out of sight (last of their 3 bottle allocation). Nose has definite heat, but not overwhelming. Oaky and nutty, caramel and vanilla. Nice. Taste is surprisingly sweet, with some mild heat and spice coming on. Caramel and vanilla shine here. Pepper spice lingers, but mildly. This is great stuff. 5/26/19

Bottle pour, neat, into Glencairn. Nose is delightful, with a balance in heat with pepper, vanilla, caramel. Just really nice. Taste is full of vanilla, caramel, oak, honey. Surprisingly sweet and smooth for the ABV. Really like. 5/26/19

Bottle pour at home, neat in a Glencairn. Nose is hot, with vanilla, caramel, oak. Some nutmeg and baking spices at play. Taste is more subdued, with mild heat over oak, vanilla, caramel, mild tobacco. Lingering spice and heat. Decent BIB, and great for the price. Will keep stocked for the home bar. 5/26/19.

Bottle at home, neat in a Glencairn. Moderate pepper rye spice, oak, tobacco, mild vanilla. This was my first bottled-in-bond when I discovered it last month in a rogue ABC store, and liked it enough to buy 6 more bottles before the limited stock was gone. I still think it is good, and at $13.99 is a great buy, and really rare in VA. 5/26/19.

Bottle pour at home, neat in a Glencairn. Second tasting after first trying a few days ago. Nose is hot and spicy. Definite rye bite. Some grassy notes, strong pepper spice is nearly overwhelming the woody notes, hints of caramel and tobacco. This is a solid rye, but is a perfect example of why I prefer a wheater. Just not smooth at all, and the rye spice overwhelms. 5/25/19

Neat in rocks glass at home. Nose has lite citrus, green apple, wet grass. Taste is similar, with some mild spice and grains coming on. Finish is a touch bitter, but not unpleasant, and leaves a nice warming note that slowly fades. Pretty decent, and an easy drinker. 9/15/19

50ml airplane bottle, neat, in a Glencairn glass. Nose has some heat over vanilla, lite grass, honey. Taste is a tad bitter, with oak, charcoal, vanilla. No real depth. Lingering slightly unpleasant burnt aftertaste.

Bottle pour neat into Glencairn at home. Purchased at Calvert Woodley in DC in preparation for National Bourbon Day. Just can never find it in VA ABC stores. Nose is orange peel, oak, baking spices, touch of vanilla. Really nice. Taste has more of the same, with the oak and spices blending perfectly. Lingering spice note, mild heat. Very enjoyable. 6/13/19

Bottle pour, neat, at Monk's in Purcellville, courtesy of Matt the Lion ($83 !!). This is a giant, tons of flavors intermingling, delicious despite the high heat. Excellent after BBQ. A rare treasure, one I need to try again

50ml airplane bottle neat in a Glencairn at home. I have low expectations, given my experiences with cheap Rebel Yell in high school some 27 years ago. Nose has some alcohol heat, some astringency, vanilla, lite wood. Flavor has oak, honey, cloves, some odd herbal/grassy notes. Heat lingers, along with some burnt tobacco and herbs. Lacks the smoothness of a good wheater. Not bad, but not particularly good either. 5/25/19.