Tastes

Color: soft and golden brown Legs are slow forming but quick running, similar to the nose where it picks up steam. Nose: so sweet: butter, toffee, sugar cane, like a buttery syrup about to put on my pancakes. Body is thick and sweet, some of that rye breaks through to provide some spice and more pungent notes. The finish is rich; half sweet, half spice but all nice. The most unique part of this one is the change from the nose to the finish, that's the real surprise. Overall a once in awhile sipper, a little too sweet for me but still a high quality bourbon.

Deep color of Amber and brown, when held up to Buffalo Trace, a distinct difference. Nose is not one where you would think there is 116.8 proof behind it. The legs run evenly spaced ever so gently and at a slow and steady pace. The body doesn't have a burn like some of the higher proofs and brings a subtle sweet along with the vanilla and Carmel. No real hints of fruit either. The finish is not powerful and rather smooth for a 116 proof power puncher. No surprises either, started, stayed and finished balanced and silky smooth. Someone once called this their Island bourbon. If they were stuck on an island and only had one bottle for eternity, this would be their choice. For the price point, taste and proof, you can't go wrong here. This bird just cracked my always stock list and made top choice under $50.

The color seemed considerably darker than than a younger bourbon. The nose seems extremely well balanced, I am an amateur but I don't notice anything out of the ordinary, oak, vanilla, Carmel. The body is smooth, some hints of citrus appear as it rolls over my tongue, what seemed simple on the nose just took a complex turn, and I like it. The finish is easy and at 100 proof, one of the smoother that I've tried. I am impressed. This 13 year just became my celebration or very special guest drinker. I think this is right up there with my EH Taylor.

Good color, the legs come down quick around the glass but the top where the bourbon just reached the peak, took a long time to fall. The nose outside of the traditional oaky smell has almost an apple or cinnamon scent hiding beneath a powerful 124 proof. It tastes a bit under aged and if you leave the bourbon sit for a while on the tongue it seems to dull the senses a bit. Inhaling while it rolls over the tongue will take your breath away. Although it's got the oak and the Carmel, the proof is almost too overpowering to really get a good taste. Combine that with the youth of it, and the way I look at it reminds me of riding a moped; it's fun to try but you don't want your friends to see.

Light color for a relatively mature bourbon. The nose screams salted caramel with an undercurrent of vanilla. There isn't a real surprise over the pallet and the finish is smooth. It's very unique for how it is aged, how it has been produced and it brings some novelty with a cool story attached to each bottle. For the price point, I'd prefer something that is a little smoother but makes for a good story to share with a friend.

Right off the nose you know you're in for a wild ride. This bad boy clocks in at 58.4% and it shows. Winning double gold at the 2019 world spirits competition, it does have nice color for a 4 year old bourbon. Nose puts of scents of toffee and butter in tandem with Carmel and just the slightest bit of oak. Over the tongue it not overly sweet and as it rolls to the back, you feel that proof almost clean out the ears. The finish seems true to the nose and takes the breath away on the first sip but the second and third get smoother. I gave it a high rating due to the nature of being so far away from traditional bourbon country but capturing the true essence of a bourbon. Well done, easy to see why you took down double golds for small batch in 2019.

Great color, Carmel vanilla on the nose, soft on the pallet and ultra smooth finish