Tastes

Store pick from Fox Cigar Bar in Gilbert, AZ. Aroma of ripe sweet berries (specifically blackberry), vanilla, cherry, and nougat. Palate opens by precisely matching the nose, with the additional of almond extract and cinnamon in the mid palate. Finishes with more cinnamon, a soft kiss of oak, and a hint of sweet macadamia nut. Finish is on the short side of medium. Very soft mouthfeel with a thin body but also some creaminess to it. Drinks under it’s proof by a large margin, which I think may be a big part of its appeal. Even though this is a wheated mashbill, I still found this to be very reminiscent of other BT products (namely Blantons and Hancocks) with it’s “thin bodied, fruit+vanilla palate, cinnamon+oak finish” profile. I must say I REALLY was not fond of this on the first 2-3 pours, thinking it astringent and flat tasting. But the air has really done something magical here, bringing the sweetness out and dulling what started as harsh finish. It literally gets better every time I open the bottle. I can see where this would have great appeal to those who enjoy the brighter, fruitier side of the bourbon spectrum. As my palate tends more toward the darker, richer, nuttier side of things, I found it to be solid but not spectacular.

Amazing nose of cinnamon sugar, butter, and baking spices. Some gingerbread as well. Literally smells like a Snickerdoodle cookie. Could be the best aroma I have ever sampled on a whiskey. Everything in the aroma carries over into the taste which opens with sweet cinnamon, nut, and black cherry notes and then switches to a spicy almost chili pepper like finish. Not a lot of herbaceousness to this for a rye; just a hint of anise, clove, tobacco, and mint in the finish. Tastes more like a high-rye bourbon, but in my opinion is not a bad thing at all. Mouthfeel is vicious and chewy. Finish is medium to long with a cocoa powder note coming after everything else fades. Can’t recommend this enough. Just delicious from start to finish.

On the nose, I am getting vanilla bean, nutmeg, buttered toast, barrel char, and spruce (?) Odd, but really pleasant as well. Opens sweet with caramel, brown sugar, and cinnamon bun but it quickly morphs into a leather/tobacco flavor in the mid-palate. Finishes with mint and pine mixed in with bitter oak. After the mint fades, you are left with a cake batter note, which is welcome because personally not digging the intensity of the mint. Definitely smooth for the proof. There's heat there, but it's all barrel spices so it is in no way a mouth scorcher. Finish is nice and long with a warming effect. Mouthfeel is thick and syrupy. Big, bold and in your face. Overall a wild ride of a bourbon, but not one that suited my palate. I didn’t hate it, but found some of the notes to be too sharp especially in the finish...why is it so minty? I admire what they are trying to do here, but not a rebuy for me. This is the third Wild Turkey product I have reviewed (along with RR regular and single barrel) and didn't much care for any of them. Starting to think it's something about this distillery that isn't meshing with my palate. Will continue to try others in the line.

Some sharp ethanol on the nose, but once you get past it you find vanilla, anise, fennel, buttered corn and a hint of orange peel. Palate has a soft, sweet entry of vanilla and apple butter. A pleasant almond note in the mid-palate. Finishes with big black pepper spice, some young bitter oak, brine, and a hint of cooling menthol. Finish is very long for the proof. Mouthfeel is on the grainy side. An enjoyable rye and a decent value. I would have to say that I found Rittenhouse to be just a shade better.

Nose of cherry, cocoa, peaches, oak, and musty barn similar to the small batch version. Strangely, the single barrel smells more alcohol forward despite being the same proof. Palate falls in line with the nose pretty well with all of the elements listed above present in some degree. Candied peach very prominent. I swear I even get a hint of whipped cream to go with the peach. A little caramel in the mid-palate that wasn't present in the nose and then poof! it's gone. Oak comes in hard just after. It's not over oaked, but if big oak presence isn't your jam might want to skip this one. Finish is filled with pepper and barrel spices, and is the single longest finish I have ever sampled. Bigger and bolder than the small batch, and that's not a bad thing at all since the flavors are enjoyable the extra punch is very welcome. Just an awesome whiskey and an upgrade over the small batch that is worth the up charge in my opinion.

Splendid nose of vanilla, toasted marshmallow, leather, fresh hay, and pipe tobacco. No ethanol to speak of; easy and really enjoyable to huff. Palate follows the nose closely, but lose the leather and add caraway-seeded rye bread, brown sugar, cinnamon, black pepper, honey, and just a touch of spearmint. Spicy finish is of decent length. Flavors are nice and bold, and integrate well. Mouthfeel is on the thinner side, but has some creaminess and is oily enough to coat the mouth. A bottom shelf titan with no discernible flaws. Definitely a bourbon drinker's rye as it is on the sweet side, but seriously a BIB Rye of this quality...for $26???! Let's not tell Heaven Hill they could mark this up 50% and it would still be worth it. Automatic re-buy status for me.

Nose a little on the timid side but what it does present is pretty great with sweet vanilla, caramel, movie theater butter, barrel spices, undefined dark fruits, and char. Hint of ethanol but it's under the other scents so not terribly offensive. On the palate, this one kind of has it all; opens with rich caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch. Mid-palate features a host of bold baking spices; nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and a hint of clove. Everything comes and goes quickly never giving your taste buds a chance to get bored. The bone-dry finish is the true highlight: instead of finishing with heat or cinnamon, it doubles back on yet more sweetness with Werther's candy flavor kissed by oak. The only flaw here is its lack of staying power, but what a flavor it is. A fantastic and complex dram. One of the things that sets it apart is how balanced it is and how well integrated the flavors are. "Best Whiskey In The World"?? No. But...for under $40 if there is a better bottle out there I have yet to find it. If I could find it readily available I would always have it on hand. A rare case of a product living up to the hype.

Fourth review of this whiskey, this time a store pick from GIlbert Convenience Mart in Gilbert, AZ. Just going to cover the differences between this one and the standard offering: sharper in the nose with more ethanol and spice. Heightened baking spices in the finish of this one; cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and clove. More bite overall. An mild upgrade over the standard, as the additional spice bloom makes for a more interesting dram. Would give it a 3.85 if the rating were possible.

After resting in the glass, I get a nose of brown sugar, oak, leather, and Charleston chew candy. Also some unwelcome ethanol and a light vegetal note (green pepper??) Palate is a kick to the teeth of molasses, Spanish peanut, and barrel spices. Finishes hot on the palate with a big Kentucky hug, and I’m talking alcohol heat, not cinnamon or pepper. After the burn fades there is a lingering finish of caramel and nuts kind of like a Payday bar, which is really pleasant. This one is a bottom shelf banger. In your face and unrefined. A lot of the Beam characteristics here but just lacking the finesse of higher end stuff. Is it great? No...too unruly for that label. Is it worth a measly $24? I would say most definitely. Edit: It’s been a week later and I’m halfway through the bottle and I’ve never had a bourbon develop in the bottle as dramatically as this one. The heat and sharpness have receded and been replaced by more nuts and brown sugar. Better than I had initially given it credit for. Pleasantly surprised. Will rebuy.

GIlbert Convenience Mart/Liquor Express store pick from Gilbert Arizona. Fruity nose of banana, rye bread, spun sugar, buttered corn, and caramel green apple. Nose carries over into the taste but with some added butterscotch and cake frosting. Bright and brassy. Medium length finish is cinnamon and white pepper with noticeable Kentucky Hug. Finishes just a little hotter than it should for the proof so just misses a 4.0 for me. This is the second 1792 product I have purchased. Neither have been “traditional” bourbon flavors, but there is something weirdly appealing in them that I enjoy and look forward to trying others in the line when in the mood for something different.