Tastes

Color is a brownish red that practically glows. The nose is like a cherry vanilla cola. On the tongue it’s a deep sweet apple and pancake taste. Sort of a bitter toffee aftertaste. Adding a decent amount of water really brings it home, so it’s really similar to my experience with the a122, which was my first entry to this series and was tremendous. Mellowed out gives you a fruity blueberry/cherry pie and cherry cola on the aftertaste. I read the review on breaking bourbon and I agree with most if not all of that evaluation. Excellent bottle and considering trying to find another while they’re available.

First time tasting. The bottle was somewhat awkward to pour out of. That’s the worst part about this. The rest is a diamond in the rough that could plausibly cost 50% more than it actually cost. The nose is sour apple cider with some warm spicy cinnamon. A first sip hits with more sweet fall flavors (apple, caramel, smokey honey) plus deep toffee on the back of your tongue. Aftertaste has a sweet woody and rich yam mix. A little water actually brings out a more sour maple that I’m not getting without the water. This is smooth and very easy drinking. After a few sips I’m finally getting a sweet warm burn after giving it a long chew. All the way good through the whole experience. Drinks like it’s been proofed down a lot more. Excellent. Not perfect but it’s close.

First time tasting this one. The nose is a sweet bread yeast. Dark vanilla after a second that is smooth. The taste is an up front sour apple pie and woody maple syrup. Little bit of cherry and sweet honey after a longer chew. Very mellow. Not too thick and relatively light but decent range of flavor. Overall a very different experience from the barrel proof but the flavor has a similar taste profile. It’s a nice easy sipping whiskey that was very affordable. Really enjoying and will definitely revisit. Almost good enough to make me forgo waiting a couple hours for the barrel proof. Almost.

Nose is woody sweet. Color is honey amber. It’s got a pretty light consistency. Easy on the tongue with sweet honey fruit and ethanol mix that is a little bitter. Short aftertaste. Light flavor throughout. It’s good for the price, but the EW single barrel and bottled in bond are much better.

Very light gold color. Nose is medicinal and lightly wheaty bourbon smell. The first sip took some getting used to but now I’m getting light smoke/ash, and more bitter/sweet apple pie. Very light water mellows it out and a more peaty smoke. Aftertaste is a warm sweet ash for a decent length. I don’t like it as well as this price range from Ardbeg or Lagavulin but it’s a nice offering that definitely mixes the bourbon barrels with a solid smoke.

Nose up front is a sour apple pie with a charred wood in the mouth. Tongue hits with a bitter and sour wood mix. A little water opens up an easier flavor, but same sour apple flavor. Aftertaste is slightly sweeter and vaguely cinnamon. Starts rough but ends nicely. Water is key to open this up. Average bourbon but probably great as a mint julep.

Light gold color. Moderately thick. Nose is a smokey salty seaside bonfire. Hits with a dry earthy peat flavor and then shows up with a honey and woody taste. That’s the bourbon barrel aging right there. Aftertaste is more dry smoke and sweet peat and has moderate length. Letting it breathe gives it a more mellow flavor throughout, not that it needed it. It’s an excellent drink. Worth the price of the bottle. Great showing for the region. Love this campfire scotch.

Nose is a fruity dark cherry and blueberry pie scent. Little bit of sour apple after a second sniff. Hits nice and thick and coats the tongue well. Taste is less fruity and more bitter with a woody flavor. Less sweet as it sits. Aftertaste brings back a fruity apple cinnamon that lasts for a few solid seconds. Not getting much sweet vanilla or maple. Solid sipper and probably a great mixing whiskey.

The color is a light red and almost pink. Nose hits like a warm cherry pie. Thick sweet oily consistency. Mouth has a little warmth and bitterness but leans into a nice vanilla and more sweet fruit after that. Aftertaste is a warm bitter but smooth cherry wood. It’s got complexity that I’m picking more of with a little water. Started solid and getting better. Sour apple comes up with a little water. Lots of fruity layers. Not quite getting the chocolate layer…yet. I think there’s more to pick up on and it’s all tasty. Cheers.

Sweet on the nose, tongue, mouth and aftertaste with a little alcohol burn afterwards. Woody sweet maple syrup with a good vanilla cherry touch. Doesn’t have a huge depth of flavor but what it has (sweet and woody) it does well. Had it in a mint julep and was a great mix, and just as good sipping straight up. Maybe not as complex as a lot of other ones but $20 for a liter it’s a freaking gem. Proof that paying more for that bottle of Old Fitzgerald or Blantons isn’t always necessary. Cheers.