Tastes

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Light-medium amber. Nose: Lots of caramel, fruit, and some floral notes. Palate: Oak and cinnamon, with some clove and baking spice. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 5.5/10 - This is a passable rye for a mixer, and not bad neat, but there are more interesting ryes at a similar price point. Bonus 1/2 point for such an interesting nose.

Received a sample from a friend. 109 proof. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medíum amber. Nose: Caramel and fruit, with a hint of leather. Palate: Clove and baking spice. Surprising not hot. Finish: Warm but not very long. Splash: A mild minty note appears. Overall: 8.5/10 - This is a nicely complex bourbon, combining some unexpected notes with some more traditional ones. It definitely drinks well below 109 proof.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Lots of vanilla, with some caramel and fruit. Palate: Oak and cinnamon with some clove and baking spice. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: Clove becomes more pronounced, but no new flavora are revealed. Overall: 8.5/10 - This is actually a bit more complex than what I’ve said above. The balance of flavors is interesting in a way that I don’t often find (although I have been tasting higher proof whiskeys lately). A bit more proof and/or age and this could be a 9/10.

Charred Barrel pick @ 110 proof Bottled 6/11/24 Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, apple. Palate: Cinnamon, baking spice, clove. Finish: Long and warm.  Splash: The hot cinnamon notes are calmed, allowing a nice oak noye to appear. Overall: 9/10 - This is a fine pick & Russell's Reserve is alqays solid for the price.

Received a sample from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Honey, apple, and other fruit. Palate: Baking spice is the most prominent, with clove and oak, and a hint of cinnamon. Finish: Long length with medium heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 7.5/10 - Without knowing the price, this is an above average bourbon with some age and proof. At MSRP (or higher) this would not be a buy for me, but I’m glad that I got to try it. That said, this would probably stand out in a cocktail, if one were inclind to use such an expensive bottle that way.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel and cinnamon, reminiscent of a candy apple. Palate: Cinnamon and clove, with some oak and baking spice. Finish: Medium heat, but long length. The clove notes are very pronounced. Splash: A spearmint note appears. Overall: 9/10 - I like where this is going. This is my first mizunara finished bourbon and it won’t be my last.

Review #200! Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Dark amber. Nose: Vanilla, caramel, apples. Palate: Clove and oak gives way to strong cinnamon notes. Finish: Long length with medium heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed but the palate becomes more balanced. Overall: 9.5/10 - This is amazing and very much a great sipper. The individual notes are intersting on their own, but together they are great.

Received a sample from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, apple. Palate: Cinnamon, baking spice, oak. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: A few drops seem to balance out the spice and oak in the palate nicely. Overall: 7.5/10 - This is enjoyable bourbon that seems too delicate to be a mixer. The finish is quite nice for the lower proof, but at a higher proof this would be a real banger.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Light amber. Nose: Floral with caramel and vanilla. Palate: Cinnamon, clove, some oak. Finish: Long but not overly hot. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 6/10 - This is a perfectly passable barrel proof (118 proof) bourbon, but it’s doesn’t stand out in any way. This was a dusty bottle when I bought it at the end of 2023 and I just got around to cracking it now. I don’t feel that I missed out on anything by not cracking it sooner.

Whisky Mentors store pick @ 112.5 proof. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Cinnamon toast crunch with some caramel notes beneath. Palate: Cinnamon, some oaky bitterness. Finish: Long length with medium heat. Splash: A few drops of water allow milder flavors like clove and baking spice to come through. Overall: 9/10 - This is one of the better amburana finished bourbons that I’ve tried. Would definitely stand out in a cocktail.