Tastes

The color is a very dark and rich amber and with any movement of the glass it becomes completely coated in heavy, never ending legs. Stitzel-Weller was known for using barrels that had thicker staves than usual so that more whiskey would permeate into the wood, and perhaps this is what gives such a dark color despite being only 6 years old. The nose is very oaky but not over powering, while at the same time very buttery along with the perfect amount of vanilla. A touch of baking spices comes out along with the faintest hint of cherry. The palate is rich and slightly oily, with the oak filling the mouth while the butteriness carries through for a wonderful mouthfeel. Vanilla and touches of baking spices follow, making this seem almost like a rich dessert. The finish is medium with lingering oak and a bit of cinnamon, while the rest of palate fades away together with a very creamy finish. Truly a great bourbon, held back only by the flavors being a bit too gentle which sadly cut the finish too short.

The nose starts with dark chocolate and charred oak, quickly followed by vanilla, butterscotch, baking spices and a hint of fruit. The palate is somewhat chewy and dry with baking spices and charred oak coming on strong, while vanilla, dark chocolate spicy rye and a slight leatheriness bring it all together. The finish is long with a lingering cinnamon spiciness along with charred oak while the rest of the palate fades nicely together. Not simple, but not complicated, making for a perfectly balanced bourbon that leaves you wanting to keep exploring it sip after sip.

The nose is very mild with vanilla, butterscotch, cherry syrup, brown sugar and a touch of oak and rye spiciness. Oak comes through stronger on the palate balanced by vanilla, while the rest of what was on the nose falls in line very subtly, while the rye stays nicely in the background but enough is there to have a presence. The finish is medium with lingering oak and vanilla while rye fades nicely. Overall a very nice whiskey to sip on and is deceivingly smooth, but at the same time could stand to be a bit more aggressive.

The color is a dark reddish amber that coats the glass but takes a minute to start dripping down the sides. The nose starts with cherry cola, oak, sawdust, leather, cooked brown sugar and caramel. The palate fills the mouth softly with a perfect mix of what was found on the palate, all coming together in one wave of flavor. No one element stands out more than the other, but cinnamon and a touch of pepper do come out at the end. The finish is long and oaky with the palate subsiding and leaving the cinnamon and pepper to come together with the oak as it lasts and lasts. Definitely different from other early 1980s bottlings.

The nose is very fruity with plenty of apple and pear covering up slight hints of vanilla and caramel, while dry oak occasionally let’s you know it’s there. The palate begins to dry out the longer you hold it in your mouth, as the fruity notes blend pleasantly with oak, while rye surprisingly makes an appearance. The finish is medium that sees the palate as a whole come together and fade nicely. This is a very simple and easy to drink bourbon, but just because it is simple does not mean it should be underestimated.

The color is a vivid amber that thickly coats the glass with the gentlest of movement of the glass. The nose is strong but not overwhelming with floral rye, sweet fruit, leather and a bit of apple pie spice. The palate is somewhat dry, with the floral rye completely filling the mouth, while oak and leather follow, along with hints of vanilla, smoke and baking spices finishing it off. The finish is medium long with the rye staying put, while the rest of palate melds together and fades away. Despite being 18 years old, oak only plays a minor character in this whiskey making it the perfect sipper for a well aged rye.

The color is a vibrant amber that coats the glass without missing a spot. The nose is mild with oak, caramel, brown sugar, rye spiciness and touches of vanilla and citrus. It all comes onto the palate somewhat chewy, with creamy rye coming forward along with cinnamon and pepper, while all the other notes play backup. The finish is medium with the sweeter elements fading away leaving oak and rye to hang on a bit longer. A good bourbon, but lacking in complexity and finish.

The color is a glowing, rich amber that immediately clings to the sides of glass, endlessly dripping down. The nose is welcoming with vanilla pastry cream, oak, old leather, floral rye, cooked caramel and just the perfect hint of dried fruit. It’s not as overwhelming as you might expect given its proof and the variety of age statements, rather there is the perfect blend of each that all of the elements are presented on their own. The palate is somewhat dry oily, with the floral rye mixing with the pastry cream to coat the mouth in a wonderful mix of flavors, while enough spice and pepperyness comes out to keep it all balanced, while an interesting creamy maple comes out at the end to give a pleasantly unexpected finish to the palate. The finish is medium long with that burst of spiciness subsiding leaving the palate to take its time in fading. Maybe not as impactful as previous years releases, but a master stroke none the less and a truly excellent bourbon.

First impression is how pretty this whiskey is being a dark and firey amber that coats the glass like a curtain when given a gentle swirl. The nose is a perfect mix of dried fruit, fresh oak, sweet pipe tobacco, butter and vanilla, with notes of brown sugar and fall baking spices mixing in and out. Each time you come back to it you are always getting a different element of the nose. The palate is very dry but also very rich with a butteryness that fills the mouth balanced by dry fruit, while it’s spiciness tingles all corners of the mouth. Oak, tobacco, brown sugar and rye round off the palate, each flavor being in a perfect proportion. The finish is long with a lingering spiciness from baking spices along with earthy rye and tobacco, while all of the creamy and sweet element melt together and fade long and gently. If you’re not careful it’s high proof will bite you, but if you take your time with it you would be hard pressed to guess that it is over 133 proof. It is a masterful blend.

The color is a vivid amber and thinly coats the glass when swirled. The nose is slightly hot if you’re not careful and starts with honey, banana, pear, vanilla, oak and cinnamon offering some hotness. The palate is very dry with a somewhat intense heat that can almost mask the flavors of what was found on the nose. The fruity notes are very nice against the dryness, with vanilla and cherry syrup that comes out at the end. The finish is long in the sense that it leaves the mouth burning for longer than the flavors last, which is a fading dry oak alongside the fruit while vanilla and cherry are quietly in the background.