Tastes

The label reads, ‘The Legendary Stedman’s Select.’ That’s funny. This is a bottom shelf price bourbon in a glass 1.75 L bottle. (Kudos for using glass.) I didn’t expect great flavors. It may only be available at Walmart. There isn’t anything special about the nose. Neat, there was some sweetness and corn. A small amount of water brought out what seemed like licorice. The finish either way isn’t very long but it was pleasant. It is inexpensive and inoffensive, unlike Crown Royal, which is not inexpensive, only inoffensive. I’m hoping the end of the strike at Evan Williams will bring the price back down. If not, I could keep drinking this.

Makes a good Hot Toddy. I like the way it tastes mixed with hot water, 3 tsp each of fresh squeezed lemon and honey.

This absolutely benefits from a couple drops of water. The nose is mellowed and more sweetness comes out. {12-25: Actually, the water brings out much more vanilla. Some people may get this without water, but my nose needed the water.} I think there was more smoke before the water and none detected after. The mouth feel is rich or oily. I taste a sweetness of some sort. {12-25: maybe cherry} I do not have the ability to really distinguish the aromas and flavors but I really like this bourbon and it does not taste so high proof. It does does not burn at all. The finish is pleasant and lingers for a few minutes.

NATIONAL SCOTCH DAY I decided to open this after it sat in my cupboard for nearly 7 months. Bought on sale. Nose: Peat not a lot, apple, vanilla some floral. After a dash of water I pick up more raisin with seemed to be there before. Taste/Feel: pear, oily, some peppery and water opened up some sweetness and cut some of the oily. Finish: can't ID but its on back of tongue and not unpleasant and oily stays. Water shortened the finish. After reading some other's tasting notes I opened mine to public and I readily confess being new to trying to ID aromas and tastes. My nose and taste does match up with others but for the 'oily' feel.