Tastes

We feel lucky to have received a sample of this latest Uncle Nearest release. Our bottle came from Barrel No. 7. We can see why it sold out so quickly. A fulsome whiskey with a powerhouse of flavor, this spirit hits all the marks in terms of distillation, aging, and bottling at 121 proof. There’s a mellow sweetness touched by a lot of the usual suspects in the bourbon world: oak, leather, caramel, a touch of vanilla, baking spices, and a hint of cocoa. We’d easily buy this year round, but since it is sold out, all we can do is cherish the memory.

You just can’t go wrong with these Heritage Collection releases. An engaging nose of heavy oak, bright rye and mellow sweet corn start things off. The flavor explodes in the mouth with a bookend of bright high notes of corn, soft barley and more rye spice than expected. The dark brooding low notes consist of oak stave and fresh char, creating a panorama of old leather, dried tobacco leaf and brown bread. The finish is extraordinarily long with a flutter of mint, and baked apple peeking in now and again. Overall, a very self assured and well aged gentleman of a bourbon.

This is a rich, remarkably smooth iteration that has somewhat of a caramel apple character. A bit of heat, but not what you might expect. Upon the opening, it appears somewhat fruity and sweet; but after a few minutes, the wood joins in the fun, creating a dry and elegant finish. Interestingly, the flavors hit all three areas of the palate, each lending a different note. At the tail end, there is a slightly prickly cinnamon tone that seems to ask for just one more sip.

Loads of oak on the nose, along with more reticent notes of cocoa, vanilla bean and pipe tobacco. The initial tasting reveals a whole lot of sweet, with a unusual floral bent. The oak comes through here as well, but not as aggressive as one might expect. There are actually a lot of disparate elements that keep popping up as the tasting progresses, but they are more curious than distracting. Everything is tied together with a friendly malted barley character that exudes southern hospitality. A different expression from what we have come to expect in this series, but a winner nonetheless.

Quite smooth, but with a fairly hefty dose of char. We had hoped for more effort from the apple brandy cask, but the fruit comes through fairly late in the tasting. Still, overall, it has a very approachable entry. We’d be curious to see how a longer aged approach would work. Somewhat light in body, the char is secondary to the sweetness of the corn. We enjoy this in whiskey highballs and as a chaser with a lager ale.

We like the blend here. It has a lot of warmth. Vanilla, toffee, caramel, and brown bread. The body is medium heavy, with a fairly long finish. Slightly dry, and a warming ginger-like heat at the tail end. A real bargain for the whiskey enthusiast looking for an affordable bottle that will please everyone but the most snobbish. Nice for sipping, but also a real hit in classic bourbon cocktails.

A terrific rye that hits all the marks. Slightly sweet entry with a bushel of rye heat immediately following. A lot of body here with a medium-heavy mouthfeel. Loads of baking spice, and holiday nut roll are apparent, with the oak cask keeping everything from going off the rails. The finish is exceptionally long, with a hint of cinnamon, allspice and black walnut. This is so good you’ll want a few bottles!

Ultimately smooth entry with notes of tree and vine fruit: fresh apple, pear, and white grape, along with softer flavors of coffee cake, cinnamon toast and mild oak. The body has a medium mouthfeel, with a lot of present flavors forward on the palate. The finish is medium long, with a refreshing peppery finality. What we love about this bourbon is that it just keeps getting better with each sip. One of the most friendly and approachable bourbons we’ve ever had. If indeed this is the kind of whiskey that was apprehended by Prohis back in the bad ol’ days, we are glad that it has finally been granted freedom after 100+ years. Confiscated gets our vote for Bourbon of the Year!