Reviews

Tasing neat. Nose is dominated with alcohol, with some oak and a little caramel. Tasting starts with light sweetness, oak bitterness and hot-ish cinnamon that's pretty consistent through the finish. The middle adds soft, oaky, dessert spice and a little red apple that gives way to some saccharine sweetness that results with a red hot candy finale. A little water didn't seem to tame the heat/harshness, but took out the complexity and brought out more saccharine in the finish. Not a bad bourbon by any means, especially for the $$, but I wouldn't call it smooth or complex. It's definitely in the Barton family as it does share some general characteristics of 1792 with the heat, oak, and cinnamon. It improved for me with some air time and hand heat, as it brought out the more round and delicate flavors that you'll find in Old Barton. Think of it as a love child between 1792 and Old Barton, but a little younger (though I wouldn't say it tastes young) and with different barrel selection. I'll probably pick up another bottle when I'm close to empty and am shopping at a TJ where they sell spirits

Tasting neat. Nose is of moderate intensity. Sweet with mild musty wood, mint, red apple with a hint of varnish/acetone burn (fresh bottle). Taste is slightly sweet and smooth, molasses, botanicals, wood, bark cinnamon, walnut, with a tart, medium, dry finish. A lot of flavor for 86 proof. A rare find of old bourbon at a decent price, despite the lower proof..it's a pretty darn good value

Tasting neat. Nose is bright with light caramel, honey, light oak, some spice and ethanol. First taste is light and fairly bright. It builds on the nose of light sugars and honey, oak, vanilla, and alcohol with mild grass/hay, general baking spices, moderate tartness, that lasts through the finish along with some lightly roasted cocoa Overall fairly mild and much more complex after you let it breathe. Better as the glass/bottle empties

Neat, Previously opened bottle; Nose is soft, floral, oak, and a little alcohol sharpness at the end. The taste stays true to the nose, a softness at the start, floral, vanilla, red apple, then sweet, then a touch of tartness, alcohol, and soft cinnamon to finish. Definitely has the Barton taste. Very close to 1792 SmB. Almost a Basil Hayden'd version of it. A bit softer and 'prettier', less heat, less sweet.

Tasting neat. Nose: Licorice, mint, a little alcohol. Taste: Cane sugar, light body, light licorice, menthol, clove, juniper, green and pink peppercorn and general rye herbs..with some sweet oak, leather, touch of smoke, and tartness in the finish. This will always be in my cabinet. It's priced like a daily and tastes like your birthday. If you like Bulleit Rye, but want a little more of the age and oak, without losing the bright spice, then this is your jam.

Tasted Neat. Aroma of honey, oak, light spice, red apple, and a touch of leather, must, and alcohol. Taste is similar. Starting with honey, butterscotch and barrel. Middle spice is dominated with red hot cinnamon, but not harshly. Oak tannins and saccharine linger through the medium long finish. Overall, pretty smooth after resting and gets better after opening Vs the 12 year, the oak, smoke, and barrel are definitely subdued, yet this still remains a solid bourbon. Not the sleeper value that it once was, but drinkable for newbies and the snobs. A must try for everyone and a solid choice for a daily sipper or for parties, though there are a lot of solid choices in this price range

Unique. Fairly smooth, refined, light bodied and 'pretty', but not floral. Oak, white sugar, vanilla, citrus, pepper, and a touch of smoke and just a little scotch 'twang'. Clean tasting overall and a dry finish where I got a hint of chocolate/carob just when it quit. More interesting and flavorful than the typical 86 proofer. Recommended to drink neat, water or ice would just wash it out. Delicious, but my only complaint is with the value.

Very much a savory bourbon when neat. Alcohol heat, tartness, hot cinnamon, some tree nuttiness, then lots of char and wood and a longish dry finish dominated by tannins and a brief encounter with dark/baking chocolate. Adding a little water took down the tartness, that was dominating, bringing out more complex notes of rye spice, nuttiness, and chocolate. Also, it brings out a little sweetness that makes it a bit more balanced and very similar to its sister, Rowan's Creek..but trading sweetness and cherries for oak and tartness. Collection worthy, especially if you like it on the rocks.

My new favorite rye. Tasting neat: Starts off light brown sugar sweet with bark and red hot cinnamon being prominent and the good rye baking spices and a little char playing supporting roles. Very few of the 'greener' rye flavors. The sugar and heat give way to a medium long finish of wood tannins, sweetness, and spices. Overall: Bright, sweet, smooth (for the proof), with a quick spicy punch that mellows out with complexity

Neat: Sweet, vanilla, ethanol. Seems basic at first, but after a few sips the dessert spices and oak start to come out when your tongue numbs and the finish builds up in your mouth a bit. An ice cube or a few drops of water transforms the beast in to a beauty..Toasty wood, some hidden char..still sweet, but less cloying. then it's rye time...cardamom, allspice, a little rye grass, and the slightest orange and mint in the middle..fading to leave sweet oak in the still longish finish. I'm tasting RB on ice back to back with Basil Hayden neat and it's pretty darn similar. BH fans might want to consider this for a few bucks more, especially if they like it on the rocks This will always have a space in my bar.