Tastes

Wow tasty. It seems like you can separate and taste each whiskey they use in the blend. On the nose is the youngest, a strong alcohol and sweet oak. Then on the palate is the middle aged, and on the finish the mellowness and oak of the 13 year. I agree it is nice and complex, just a little hot on the nose and the finish. But really quite nice for a entry level product. I look forward to trying their other offerings. Strong caramel, corn, and vanilla on the tongue. A little fruity nature also. A little spice and heat on the swallow leading in to a pleasant oak and sweet finish. A little of a strong and almost 'cheap vodka' type finish takes away from the rest of the wonderful experience. While I don't like paying almost $30 for sourced juice, this is a nice little dram. Compares reasonably well to Knob creek in terms of complexity and profile, with a little less fruit. Right on the edge of something I would buy again, but it is from a good brand that does things right so why not.

Stick with me here: You get up in the morning to go to work on a Monday morning. It’s early, and you’re groggy. You get ready and go to your car. You stick the key in the ignition and the radio was left on a random station at full volume. You have no idea what song is playing and it’s entirely too loud. That is the feeling I get when I drink this. Pickle juice and pine dominate the nose and early palate. Mint and hot white pepper hits you quickly over the head. The sweetness and vanilla seem chemical and fake. A tinge of alcohol and pepper is all you’re left with on the short mineral tart finish. You instinctively reach down and slap the radio off as fast as you can. Everything is better now, but you’re in a slightly worse mood. Same for this dram. Maybe I just don’t have my rye senses yet, but wow this is hot and unharmonious. No thank you.

Yawn.... It's a wheater so by definition not a lot going on flavor wise. Sure its sweet and reasonably smooth. A little floral and fruity on the nose. Decent mouth feel. Crisp, sweet, and bright, but the flavor has no depth beyond bananas, apple, and vanilla. What you smell is what you taste and the taste doesn't change over the course of the chew and swallow. Then the tart starts to kick in with the oak. Finish is okay, starts out too bitter and astringent, before fading to crisp apples and fruit with a little sweet vanilla. Mouthfeel is the best part, but it just makes me want a lot more flavor. Why anyone would hunt this out or pay more than MSRP is beyond me. It's not objectionable, and is a decent product, but really a 3.8 average on here? The demand is a marketing racket hype machine at its worst. Maker's is better (still nothing remarkable), and much more available.

Sweet and smooth easy drinker. Oak is very strong on the nose, with a little brown sugar and vanilla showing. Wood dominates the immediate taste, saw dust and hardware store vibes; dusty. But that fades to a wonderful sweet experience of rich caramel and vanilla birthday cake, maybe creme brulee. Maybe a little fruit juiciness as well. Sweet, but balanced by the wood. Tastes like a wheater, but with a little more body. No spice. Finish is a little lack luster, a sweet and punchy vanilla lasts longest, but not as long as I would like. Only a 3.5 because the price is a little on the high end. If it was a little more complicated and had a little more spice, it would be a home run. If only they double oaked their rye offering.... a man can dream.... This is tasty, but a little one-dimensional, pricey, and low proof to be rated 4+. Not too different from the sweetness of Old Foreseter 86, at more than double the price. Same oaky sweetness as Makers 46 at a lower proof and 150% the price.

Vanilla and sweet on the nose, followed by harsher oak/spice/cinnamon and some expected alcohol burn on deep inhales. Palate has some nice sweet vanilla and caramel with citrus and tart oak coming on at the end. Mouth feel is okay, nothing too special. Impressively long rye spice finish with a little more oak and sweet shining through. Gets a little tart at the end however. In short: lots of flavors going on, but not well mingled or balanced. The flavors compete and dominate depending on how you sip, rather than compliment each other. Good for the price, just sips a little too hot for an everyday. The proof point is solid, and leads to a nice long finish that can get a little hot and out of hand. Could use a few more years, but definitely no complaints for $20. Probably prefer Buffalo Trace or OGD 114 at the same price point

Wow. A lot going on. It is bold and complex. Lots of clove and a little mint at the start. Quickly followed by sweet vanilla morphing in to intense pear and melon. But that is quickly followed by equally intense white pepper and a little brine and other spices. I’m definitely not a fan of the sweet then spicy so closely mashed up. Very intense. Young in taste but smooth for the proof. Nice finish. Not a great value, but worth the money. Bold, and doesn’t quite do it for my tastes and preferences. I can see why people like it. Just not me.

It's nice. Lots of sweet and oak as expected. A little tobacco on the nose too, hiding in the oak. Smooth on the palate with velvet mouth feel. Almost fake/chemical sweetness, with dusty coco powder and vanilla on the tongue. Tasty, and smooth for 47%, but a little over priced and dull. Wonderful neat for dessert, but not a 'main course' or particularly exciting bourbon. But then again wheaters aren't really my thing anyway.

Being generous here. I really don't understand what the hype is about. Flat on the nose, with corn and a little vanilla. On the palate is flat spice and char with no real notes tangible flavors. I guess I'd say cinnamon if I had to pick one? Mouth feel is harsh and no real body. Finish is bitter, short, and hot. I get that's what they were going for with the high rye content, but man they could have executed it better. Their actual rye is better. Overpriced, young, and flat. Okay for on rocks, but the mouth feel gets even more watery. I guess maybe it'd be alright in mixed drinks? Spend a few bucks more and get Elijah Craig, it is so much better.

Simple and tasty. Sweet and fruity on both the nose and palate. Vanilla and sugar, followed up by cherries and cream cheese frosting. A little oak and dust at the front. A little burn at the end, non-descript and hard to tell if it is from young age or a little bit of rye shining through, maybe a little cinnamon. A little thin on mouth feel and lower proof than preferred, but decent for the price. Not a bargain, but a nice simple (but not one dimensional) bourbon for sipping.

Very flat, overall. On the nose, not much besides sweet honey and vanilla. You can tell its a young bourbon when you taste it. Thin mouth feel, almost bland flavors. Not much spice or caramel or any other noteworthy flavor. Finish is short, harsh oak and alcohol burn (to be expected for the respectable proof, but this is not a smooth finish). There are much better bourbons, and even wheated bourbons at this price point. Leaves a lot to be desired, both in flavors and finish.