Tastes

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Apple, caramel, and a nutty almond note. Palate: Cinnamon red hots, clove, and some oak. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: The clove becomes more pronounced and the cinnamon is less prominent. Overall: 9/10 - These Makers cask strength bottles hit my palate just right, and much more affordably than the Makers Private Selects that I’ve tried. This is a great bottle at its price point that drinks well below the 113.2 proof.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel and vanilla with a nutty almond note. Palate: Cinnamon, baking spice, oak. Finish: Long and very warm. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 7.5/10 - This is another bottle that I’ve had for a while and haven’t reviewed. The age and proof are apparent, but for the cost it doesn’t stand out as much as I’d like.

Received a sample from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Dark fruit, caramel, vanilla. Palate: Cinnamon red hots, with some baking spice and oak. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: Some fruity notes return. Overall: 8.5/10 - At MSRP, I could see this being a weekend dram. Sadly, I never see these for MSRP.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Strong notes of butterscotch and caramel. Palate: Banana notes give way to bread and baking spice. Finish: Not as warm as I would expect from the proof, but very long. Splash: A vegetal note appears. Ice: No new flavors are revealed, but the vegetal note really takes over. Overall: 9.5/10 - This is a bottle that I had kept for a long time, thinking maybe I'd trade it for something else some day. It sat on a shelf in my basement for over a year. I finally got around to trying this, and I'm speechless. From the nose to the finish (and beyond) this bottle is full of surprises, and this was just the neck pour. I'm looking forward to how it might open up over time.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, stonefruit. Palate: Cinnamon, baking spice, clove. Finish: Long with medium heat. Splash: A bit of oaky bitterness appears. Overall: 7.5/10 - This is a bottle I’ve had for a while and haven’t opened until now. I had to purchase it in a bundle with Stagg and didn’t really want it at the time. I had hoped to trade it and then forgot about it for a while. Now that I’ve opened it, it’s good bourbon but…for MGP at 100 proof for $100, I was hoping for more. At a lower price this would rate higher. It’s still good bourbon, but doesn’t quite live up to the price point.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Light Amber. Nose: Smoke and salt evoke an oceanside campfire. Subtle notes of apple and pear are just below the surface. Palate: More salt, smoke, apple, and pear notes. Some bitter oak. Finish: Long length with medium heat. Splash: Less smoky but somehow more salty with a few drops of water. Overall: 8/10 - This seems to be hitting most of the major notes while missing the overall mark. It’s good, but considering the 90 score here on Distiller, I expected a more balanced dram.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Srrong notes of vanilla, caramel, and toffee, with some cinnamon red-hots. Palate: Cinnamon, clove, baking spices, with a touch of mint towards the end. Finish: Long and warm, as one would expect from the proof. Splash: Some oak tannins come through with a few drops of water. Overall: 9/10 - Bookers seems to be one of the most consistent, yet obtainable, limited releases. Would definitely buy again, especially at under MSRP.

Conti's Wines & Spirits store pick 144 proof Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Butterscotch and a hint of cinnamon. Palate: Baking spice and oak, with some clove and cinnamon notes. Finish: Long and warm. Splash: A few drops calms the spicier notes and lets the sweetness of the clove come through without being too spicy. Overall: 9/10 - My first hazmat bottle. Definitely recommended for anyone who likes higher proof whiskey.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch. Palate: Baking spice and oak, followed by cinnamon and clove. Finish: Medium length with medium heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 9/10 - The nose is amazing, and everything that follows is classic bourbon. Well done!