Tastes

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Green apple, pie crust, apricot. Palate: More fruit with a touch of cinnamon. Finish: Medium heat, medium-long length. Splash: Some dry oakiness comes through. Overall: 9/10 - I've never been disappointed by a Knob Creek store pick. I wish I could get more of this one.

Glass: Old fashioned, in a bar. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Vanilla, caramel, apple. Palate: Tart apple, some baking spice, more caramel. Finish: Medium heat, medium length. Splash: Brings back the vanilla and calms the spice. Overall: 7.5/10 - Typical EC barrel proof. Nothing unusual, but still a solid sipper.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes Color: Medium amber. Nose: Nutty, dried apricots, sweet. Palate: Nutty, oaky, rye spice. Finish: Medium length, medium heat. Splash: Calms the rye spice, fruit returns. Overall: 8.5/10 - A great pour, but too expensive to be a daily drinker. Everything from Barrell has been fantastic. Will definitely try in cocktails!

Old Elk Wheated Bourbon QS03 Holy Cannoli Proof: 117.2 Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Nose: Sweet, nutty. Caramel apples. Palate: Oak and spice. Finish: Medium length, medium heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 8/10 - A great pour, could easily be a daily drinker for me.

Heaven's Door Cask Strength Single Barrel Proof: 124.3 Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Nutty, with chocolate and marshmallow. Palate: More nuts, leather and oak. Finish: Warm, but not hot. Very long. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 9/10 - Every store pick of Heaven's Door tastes like almonds to me, but it's much more complex than that, with a thick mouthfeel and a fantastic finish. This could easily be a daily drinker for me.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Caramel and nuts. Palate: Oak, nuts, baking spices. Finish: Long with medium warmth. Splash: Caramel returns, with some apple notes. Overall: 8.5/10 - A great pour, easily could be a daily drinker.

Russell's Reserve 13 Year Proof: 114. Received a sample in trade. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Almonds, honey, apricots. Palate: Cinnamon and baking spice. Finish: Long and very warm. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 8/10 - The flavors in the nose are overpowered by spice in the palate. A splash of water calms the spice, but doesn't reveal anything new.

Blanton's Straight From The Barrel Proof: 126 Received a sample in trade. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Nuts, honey, graham crackers. Palate: Cinnamon, baking spice. Finish: Very long and very warm. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 9/10 - Drinks below its proof with a finish that won't quit. Cinnamon and baking spice in the palate is calmed by just a splash of water. Impressive.

Elijah Craig 18 Year Proof: 90 Recived a sample in trade. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Oak and sweet honey with chocolate. Palate: Oak, cinnamon, baking spice. Finish: Very long and very warm. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 9/10 - An absolute oak bomb with an exquisite finish. Too rare and expensive to be a daily sipper, but a fantastic pour nonetheless.

Glass: Old fashioned, at a bar. Proof: 130.9 Age: NAS Nose: Cherries and caramel. sweet. Palate: Res hots and cherries. Definitely doesn't taste like 130 proof. Finish: Long with red hots and cherries. Medium heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 8.5/10. I had passed on a bottle of this last year and now wish I bought it. This was a bottle kill for the bar. Drinks like a lower proof bourbon.