Tastes

This poor pour had the misfortune of being tasted alongside Handy 2020 and Sazerac 18 (2021). By comparison, it doesn’t come close. On its own, it’s still very good and deeply complex with an astringent finish like an Expo marker. I would drink again but not buy.

Tasted this with 2020 Thomas H. Handy. Handy DEMOLISHES this by comparison, but this is still a nice, sweet oak bomb. Great pour if you like munching on wood staves or widdling wood sculptures with your teeth in your spare time.

To me, this is a perfect rye. Layers on the nose, layers on the palate, and a long, spiced finish. Incredible.

I’m a pie guy, so let me serve you a slice: of KNOWLEDGE! Nose: early on, crisp apple, but settles into warm cinnamon Palate: butter, fruit sweetness, and some rich caramel/brown sugar You combine the nose and palate, and you have a pie bomb. 💣 Finish lingers SLIGHTLY and has a modest punch of spice, but nothing crazy. Definite buy at MSRP (lol), and seriously, a good bourbon.

Let’s get into it. Nose: canned pears, honey (possibly brown sugar), and baking spice Palate: fruit sweetness and rye spice Finish: surprisingly long, with lingering rye and warmth Would definitely love to have a bottle.

Had my first Pappy tonight. 50% hype, 50% good bourbon to back it up = never finding it for MSRP, so don’t even try. Hard-hitting oak boy with crazy vanilla sweetness on the nose. Palate confirms strong oak-y presence with pleasing sweetness and citrus-y notes. The real special sauce is in the finish though… long, lingering, warmth with unfolding spice (even with a wheated mash bill). Would drink again; wouldn’t pay.

This is slept on. Wake up, sheeple. Nose: apple, oak, youth-y corn. Palate: pleasing rye spice and slight fruit sweetness. Finish: not too short, but not really a “medium” either. For anything less than a $18 price tag, it’s a “buy all day” situation.

This thing is SICK! Love it. Sweet, sweet candied nose, a citrus zest and rye-spiced palate with a great mouth feel: can’t go wrong.

Pretty surprisingly complex! First impression: apples and leather nose (opens up to more honey as it sits in the glass). On the palate: much more spicy with a little more fruit. Finish: decently complex again with more tannin-y and spicy notes in the back of the mouth. Would recommend: especially if you see it for under $30!

Pros: very, VERY fruit forward in the beginning; nice bit of rye influence for a tingle on the tongue; heavy sweetness on the nose and palate; coats the mouth well (oily) Cons: extremely simple; short finish (although the rye does cling to the tongue for a bit, which is nice); medicinal cherry notes pop in on the nose and palate as it opens up