Tastes

Extremely sweet on the nose. Much harsher and bitter than expected for a brand that prides itself on “smoothness”. The double filter through charcoal gives it a very bitter vitamin/oak taste. Not worth the price or the hype disappointed. Overpriced for 80 proof also. I’ve had barrel proofs smoother than this.

Very unique and enjoyable sip, lives up to the price. Goes down too well for 90 proof. Nose brings vanilla, and sweet fruit of pear and coconut. A good bit of spice when first tasted, which surprised me given the lead of sweet. Carmel, honey and a little corn come in later, with fruit of banana and coconut again towards the end. Coconut and salt linger on a nice long finish. Dries the mouth out with salt, but keeps me coming back for more. One of the best Bourbons I’ve tasted, and certainly the most unique. Truly tastes like it’s travelled the world, from the tropical fruit to the brine finish. They knocked this out of the park. Only complaint is the price tag.

Wow. Very complex. It comes on a little strong with a good amount of burn that is equal parts spice and alcohol as part of a long very nice finish. Lots of notes coming through: oak, caramel, black pepper, chocolate, and vanilla all come through strong. A little pricey for what you get, I wouldn't call my barrel earth shattering by any means, and there's still burn even when you add some spring water. Make no mistake, it's a great experience, and it's a nice shelf bourbon to talk about, but not one that I would make part of my regular rotation. Maybe I'll give it a second chance hoping for a better barrel. But, at the end of the day, that's not the impression I want to be left with for a bourbon above 4 stars.

Wonderfully complex rye. Nothing particularly overpowering for the front, with a nice long peppercorn-y finish. It's great at 90 proof, and the rye-bread and other spices really shine through after a few more sips. A very nice rye for the price, surprised it doesn't have a bigger following.

Accomplishes what it sets out to do. Tasty, especially mixed. Don't head in to it expecting a serious whiskey. Come on, it's 70 proof and flavored, don't be such a try-hard looking for 'notes of toasted almonds on a crisp September afternoon' or whatever. That's clearly not the point here. It's sweet and fruity, and you can taste a tiny bit of whiskey shining through. Throw it in a mixed drink and head out to the pool. A little on the pricey side give it was a special release, but I'd say it's worth it for the novelty and taste.

Was gifted this bottle. A novelty for sure. People reviewing this as a serious whiskey are missing the point. No, you can't sip this, you'd be an idiot to try. It's fun, and something really different. Take it as a shot, after enjoying the smells (probably the best part). This is what you take as a shot if your college football team is kicking off at 11 and you just got out of bed at 10:30 and need a kick in the ass to wake up. The 70 proof is frankly disappointing, and they water it down with sugar water to make it extra sweet. I keep it on hand as a novelty to share sips with visitors, but would never seriously buy it. The suggestion to try it in a bloody mary might be something I need to try.

Wow. A really wonderful bourbon. $18 for 1.75L??? Are you kidding me? Citrus, vanilla, a little floral, and a little spice, and great medium long finish. 90 proof is another wonderful surprise. Great spectrum of notes, yet mellow enough to sip. Not overpoweringly tart or smokey. Don't reach for any other bottom shelf bourbon. Pick this up today, and sip it everyday.

Sure, its a nice budget bourbon. Great price point, a liter for ~$13. A good proof, and strong mouth feel and presence. Strong, not particularly mellow. Definitely a tart sipper. Smokey, young, with not much sweetness or delicate notes, except maybe some vanilla. Note worthy for it's value, not its taste. Reach for Ezra Brooks instead: cheaper, much better, and higher proof.

Imagine how rare this bottle would be if it was marketed as a 'barrel strength Basil Haydens'? Same producer, same mashbill. Why Basil Haydens is so expensive is beyond me. This is a really nice surprise. Had to add a splash of water to open it up, but that unlocked a lot of tart and spiced flavors. Lots of nutty-ness throughout when straight, with a good mouth feel and high-rye finish. A favorite to put in some apple cider once fall roles around and still shine through. Not a sweet whiskey, and not the smoothest. But it works well with the flavors and proof. A little shocked how short the finish was for the proof, but great mouth feel. Wonderful for the price and availability.

Lots and lots and lots of corn. Somewhat disappointing compared to their other offerings. Bland, with a little sweet and vanilla barely peaking through. Short/medium finish. Not the best at it's price point if you want character. Reasonably smooth however.