Tastes

Had a nice pour in New Orleans! It is an absolute vanilla extract bomb. It drinks a little warmer than 90 on the palate but it's a welcomed heat. Chocolate, carmel, coconut are also in the mix. Some apple appears towards the end. The finish is a nice oak, vanilla and worn out leather. Wish I had a bottle.

This is a pick from Corkdorks in Nashville and it rings in at 118.4. Nose leads with musty oak, maple syrup, sweet corn and I get fall leaves scent or real earthy. Mouthfeel is better than the Cool Springs pick as it's real viscous for a 5 year pick. Flavors are Cherry, Vanilla that are pretty much a line drive right up the middle for flavor. Finish has some complexity as I get pipe tobacco, carmel, vanilla, and a wave of chocolate. Its a fun pick!

This is a pick of Cool Springs Wine and Spirits and 116.8 proof. On the nose I get powered sugar, toffee, pear, dusty corn and musty oak. The mouthfeel is a little light. Flavors are cherry, oak, tiki bitters, marshmallow, graham cracker. It has s'more vibes for sure. The finish is a little warm but more pleasant than warm and the flavor that lingers is oatmeal raisin cookie.

This is pretty special. It has the right balance of sweet and spice. The nose has some classic turkey funk that is hard to find in modern turkey products. I get some earth and strong cherry mixed with some cedar and cigar box. It’s awesome. Flavor is vanilla, chocolate, Carmel,butterscotch, and then sweet honey oak followed by the spice cabinet of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. The finish is mostly cinnamon and a nice oak but it hangs around for a long time and it gives a great Kentucky hug and builds a slow warmth in your chest. It is oily and covers the pallet well. Glad to have a bottle.

This one is polarizing. I’ve been waiting for it to open up and I’m not sure if it ever will? Ginger ale hides it well so that is usually worthy of a low score. There is a ton of flavors in this one as you can see all the complexity but it’s fiery and not an enjoyable experience. The black strap rum gives a nice sweetness and oak flavor but the additional finishing from the port and cab don’t do it any favors. It’s a hot mess that I’m giving up hope on.

Really sour note overrides strawberry, maple and a good bit of a pleasant oak. I really wanted this to be decent, but it just isn’t ready.

This is always a treat. Scent is very strong. Peaches, oak, leather, Carmel corn, and then more peaches. Colin got that note and he was exactly right. The palate is bold. The fruit showcased right away is apricot. The Carmel is thick and the vanilla is like that of a sweet icing. There is some heat and then cinnamon. Finish has a sweet honey oak, more Carmel, and a touch of heat with some butterscotch. While there are better batches of ECBP out here I appreciate the bold flavors in this one.

Nose is cherry pop tarts and a Carmel sundae. The palate is a sugar cookie drizzled with carmel. It’s a sweet flavor ride. The finish brings out the selected staves and all the French spices make an appearance. It’s super easy to drink at 110.6 proof.

I’m happy I have a bottle of this as it’s a fun whiskey to share with friends and tell the story of Frank and Jack. I enjoy the whiskey more than regular black label although it’s not bad on its own right. The raising of the proof in this whiskey to 90 proof helps a lot. The extra contact with the wood groves seems to impart a subtle oak and smoke flavor that isn’t common in bourbon.... or well TN whiskey. The rest of the flavors are pretty common and you can find them to a lesser degree in old number 7. Maple, Carmel, Vanilla, Banana pudding, nutmeg and some apricot on the finish. It’s a fun whiskey and it’s enjoyable in the fall with its flavor profile and can handle 1 large rock pretty easily. This one takes a while to open up and it’s not as good here at my place compared to having it at the distillery in Lynchburg but I’m glad to have it.

This one is a selection from Jamie Farris down in Hattiesburg at Lincoln Roads package store. It’s a great spot and I enjoy going for his Russells picks. This is a Camp Nelson A pick from floor 4 and its pretty awesome. The nose is subtle with vanilla, cherry and oak. But the palate lights up with a creamy start that turns a little prickly in a pleasant way. Cinnamon, Carmel, Cherry Coke, leather, clove, nutmeg and a ton of oak on the back half. The finish gives a sharp tobacco, some turkey funk, cinnamon spice and worn out leather. Then it leaves a cherry coke effervescence which I absolutely love! And it stays with you so well. There are some better bourbons out there, but not many. CNA sent some excellent RR single barrel picks to the market. This one is special.