Tastes

Overall: A solid $30 spent. Is it a show stopper? No: It could certainly use some more time in the barrel... I'm glad it didnt though. This allows people to taste and experiment with a BP bourbon and not shell out a Benjamin. The experience it gave me was very much an old movie theatre vibe; with the buttered popcorn nose, and finish. The toffee and vanilla mixed in with a hit at the front like a frosty coke. It is Americana. Nostalgia bottled at a proof that will leave you feeling as empty as the movie theatres did. Nose: Movie theatre popcorn stand. The mixture of the butter and some on the bottom bordering on burned. Palate: light mouth feel. Hot flash of cinnamon up front followed by waves of vanilla confectionary, and toffee. Finish: medium. A buttery popcorn flavor pops in, and intermingles wirh flashes of the vanilla confectionary.

Overall: This bottle is an enigma for me. I love it when I pour a glass and bananas come through with brown sugar and spices to make a tropical bourbon that didnt forget where its from. I dont like it when the citrus side just sort of blurs everything and the only distinct note is the spice... it certainly drinks above its proof, and is not a regretable buy at $25. I hope the higher end of the Old Forester line follows this profile, and simply make it more robust. Nose: Rum-esq ethanol. Green Bananas, and cooking sugar. Palate: Spicy punch right off the bat, it flashes quick but on further sips it is cinnamon and nutmeg. This opens the way for carmalized brown sugar, and a citrus brightness. The mouthfeel is oily, and awesome when ripe banana comes through. Finish: Medium. A clove spice lingers, and depending on the sip banana runts come through the nose.

Overall: I am from Missouri, so I will try to put bias aside. I was fully expecting for the age, and price this to be very comparable to Heaven Hill BiB (which I really enjoy), but it isn't. Instead of going the dark rich dessert path it goes for fruits, and it does that well. I wish it had a better mouthfeel, but I am not disappointed in acquiring this bottle. At the price of $51 before tax, I look forward to comparing it to Old Forester BiB. My gut tells me it will be bananas vs. dates. Nose: Ripe fruit: Strawberries, and raspberries. With more time, a molasses smell melds everything together. Palate: Rye bread hit me off the bat. The spice, mixed with a hollow texture I get from campari. Its not a bad thing, but a distinct textural component of some drinks. This all quickly morphs into the sweetness of dates, and vanilla ice cream. Finish: medium to medium short. Grape jelly - authentic grape jelly, not like the grape pixie stick of buffalo trace.

Overall: I may be a bit of a heaven hill fan boy at this point, I have been really impressed by everything of theirs I have tried. This is a bargain at 30 bucks! Imagine if Larceny and Heaven Hill BiB had a baby: The wheaty sweet smoothness from Larceny, and all the chocolate compelxity from the age of HH BiB. For a few bucks more than Larceny, and about half the price of HH BiB? Deal. Nose: Nutty white chocolate. Hints of banana. Sweet, but not off-putting. Palate: Spice right up front that quickly flows into dark chocolate. As the glass dwindled down, banana bread became very present. Finish: Medium. Longer than anticipated with a warm molasses flavor

Overall: This was an older bottle of Rebel Yell, and I would gladly drink this as an aperitif in lieu of dessert. The baklava flavors and champagne tingle leave me feeling warm & content... if you love wheated bourbons, you should check this out. Nose: Honey, grain, and a touch of ethanol. Definitely smells like a wheater. Palate: Orchard fruit comes forward, and morphs into a delicious baklava flavor. It is proofy in a good way, there is a tingling sensation reminiscent of champagne. As the glass dwindles down citrus notes pop through, and morph together with the consistent honey and filo dough. An oily mouthfeel helps this hang around. Finish: medium, but strong. The numbing sensation on the lips and popping on my tongue keeps the baklava hanging around.

Overall: Classic bourbon flavors, and a great deal at $28. I wish it had a heavier mouthfeel, but it is by no means light. Its a glass that definitely leaves me wanting another. Nose: Bright. Honey, a bit of citrus as well. Palate: Salted caramel, and milk chocolate. Pleasant clove and cinnamon spice throughout the duration of the sip. Finish: Medium in length with pralines and black cherry coming through.

Overall: In the $30- 35 price range this guy stands up to competition well. Its not overly complex, but what it does it excels at. Nose: Sweetened version of fresh cut grass, like someone drenched those clippings in white Karo syrup. A beautiful smell really. Palate: Drinks like a good rye whiskey. No insane heat, but a great mouthfeel, and a sugary pink bubblegum note comes through. This still presents honey, and other grainy notes, but the bubble gum really helps this stand apart. Finish: Medium Long, the confectionary note carries through with a nice chest burn. A warm KY hug.

Overall: Let it breathe. Not just the glass, but the bottle. Leave some headspace in there and let it be for a week or two. Out of the gate this tasted like someone smashed altoids into a block of oak with a mallet, then proceeded to drench that wood in kerosene and light it on fire. Once sufficiently charred, the piece of wood was then extinguished into water that was then bottled and sold as Knob Creek 9... Fortunately this got better with some oxidization, and that is where my review comes from. For the price I'd rather have a 1.75L of EW BiB, a bottle of Russells 10, Larceny, Makers, Buffalo Trace, etc. etc. You get the point. Its alright, but really underdelivers at 35ish bucks. Nose: Wet Oak, maple syrup, grass Palate: spices and syrup. Nothing distinct, they kinda just bleh together with a decent enough mouth feel. Finish: Medium in length, buttery honey rolls. Definitely the star of the show here.

Overall: Very similar to Redemption bourbon. The bottle has been sitting with an 1/8th left for some time now, so some of these tastes have morphed throughout its life. At the price of $35 it didn't really impress me then, and I don't think I'll buy it again. It was always quite light in flavors and quick in the finish, and while I don't mind that sometimes I prefer something more robust when I get above $30. Nose: Butterscotch, and syrup Palate: That package of mandarin oranges you'd find in a kids lunchbox, with a touch of vanilla, and a numbing clove spice. Finish: Light and short, the mandarin orange carries through along with a white syrup.

Overall: Classic bourbon flavors in my eyes. If someone was just getting into bourbon (or already is), and wanted a benchmark, I'd recommend this very affordable/available option. I'd love to do a blind tasting of this with JTS BiB, OGD, Old Tub, and Early Times BiB and see where they all stack up. Nose: Caramel popcorn, buttered corn. Very corn forward (who woulda thought a bourbon would would be corn forward?). Butterscotch with some time Palate: A well frosted Cinnabon, nothing unbalanced, but well frosted. With some time the flavors separate, and develop more honey and buttery hazelnut notes. Finish: Medium short. I got faint hazelnut, but it disappeared along with the classic bourbon 'iron infused cherry'.