Tastes

Mine is a NC Private Select. Nose: Caramel and Vanilla with a bit of oak. Taste: The charred wood (Hickory or mesquite) hits you right in the face. It’s almost overwhelming. Then caramel rolls in. But deciphering other flavors is hard because of how strong the wood flavor is on mine. I get a slight chocolate taste towards the end. The flavors in this one lingers for a while. I just wish that it wasn’t so strong on the wood flavor and allowed for the other notes to come through and shine.

Nose: Caramel, Vanilla and spice. Taste: Sweet caramel, oak, and a nice hit of tobacco. Then you get some baking spices and a little cherry. Nice long finish. Overall, this is a winner. I’m really not a huge Makers drinker. This is at the top of their offerings for me. In a blind tasting it may do even better. Get a bottle of this if you can.

Nose: It’s interesting. I get chocolate covered raisins and cinnamon. With a little Smokeyness. Taste: I instantly get the caramel up front. Then a nice smooth spice rolls through with a few peaty notes. It has that nice oak flavor. It has a medium to short finish. Overall: It is a good drink. It has a lot of good attributes of a good drink. I wish that it would be at least 100 proof. That’s just a preference since it generally gives it that thicker/oily mouth feel that has a longer finish. Great release by EC!

Nose: Caramel, Vanilla and spice. Taste: Sweet caramel, oak, and a nice hit of tobacco. Then you get some baking spices and a little cherry. Nice long finish. Overall, this is a winner. I’m really not a huge Makers drinker. This is at the top of their offerings for me. In a blind tasting it may do even better. Get a bottle of this if you can.

Nose: Nice caramel and vanilla tones on the nose. I keep getting a hard alcohol hit to the nose that I hope isn’t so harsh when I drink it. Taste: This has a nice caramel and baking spice upfront with hints of vanilla and oak. The flavors are all there but it’s slightly subdued and light. It’s a good overall drink. It’s smooth and is enjoyable but the flavors just don’t pop like I wanted them to with this one.

Got lucky and found a bottle of this today on the shelf. So let’s pop it open a give it a try. Nose: Raisin and Peanuts. That’s the front runners immediately. There’s some l baking spices that join the party as well. Taste: it has a great alcohol tingle as it hits the taste buds. Then you get Roasted peanuts, baking spices and vanilla. It has a nice long finish that leaves the roasted nuts and spice lingering for a while. It has dried fruits in the mix as well. Overall this is a winner. I would go for this drink on the regular. I’m hoping to find many more bottles of this so I don’t have to worry about running out soon. Because some bottles you are okay with finishing off and not having another one waiting. This one will hurt when it’s gone and there is no more.

Nose: Cherry, baking spices, butter and toffee/caramel. One of the best rye’s I’ve smelled. Makes me excited to dive in. Taste: This one hits with the baking spices up front. With hints of vanilla and a slight fruity notes coming next. Then the sweet heat hits a little and mellows out to cherry/banana finish. It has a nice long finish and does not leave you disappointed. This is a great drink. Definitely one of the best rue’s I’ve ever had. Once you get over $100/retail it’s hard to judge the drink in my opinion. Is it worth paying the high amount? I’ll leave that up to you. As this is definitely a bottle I don’t regret purchasing. I’m a huge fan of all Kentucky Owl drinks that I’ve had so far.

Nose: It starts with a hint of maple syrup. With earthy tones on the end. Taste: it hits with a sweet light caramel instantly. Followed by a nice tease of rye spice. I can’t decipher much more individual notes out of it. It’s smooth and has no bite to it. Overall , it’s a good drink. It’s not quite as complex as I would like. Not sure that it will hold up in an old fashioned. The flavors are to mellow for mixed drinks based upon this tasting. But I will try it in an old fashioned in the future and upgrade my rating.

Nose: Banana forward smell. I typically don’t pick that scent up on bourbons. I can smell some oaky char. Fairly mellow to the nose. Taste: It has an initial banana taste followed by an earthy/grassy note. Then the heat hits with vanilla and spices. The spice mellows out to a caramel aftertaste. I like the trip that this sip takes me on. Overall a good experience. Now is it worth the price tag? I would lean towards it definitely not worth the price tag. I would buy this all day at $70-$80. It’s a great drink to have around on the bar for that nice occasion though.