Tastes

I cant believe I am giving a 5 star rating. It usually takes a lot for a four star rating but this bottle is...simply one of the best I have ever had. A strong oak nose with the cleanest palate and finish of any bottle to date, hardly a burn but still warm to the throat. Impressive...most impressive. Its a sneaky slight of hand in a bottle. Half way through I find myself listening to baroque music and contemplating philosophical ideas. An intellectual companion and a smooth operator. This is Bill Clintons saxophone fighting Steve Martin with a Banjo... in a bottle. Don’t judge me. The force is strong with this bottle. 4.5/5

A pleasant bourbon, not too harsh on both palate and nose. Burn is lasting but for all the hard hitting factors, i cant help but feel its a bit basic. Cinnamon and banana flavors are hinting but not prevalent. 3.7/5

Better than gentlemans but still a distinct JD whiskey. Charcoal and all, not hot at all but full of vanilla and light caramel. I would honestly prefer this bottle if it were about $20 cheaper. For the price tag, it needs more. Props on the bottle though. 3.6/5

At 115 proof it has a low heat with a lingering burn. Complex cherry and vanilla notes with a medicinal type ethanol nose but not too harsh. I dig it. One of my favorites in my collection. 4.2/5

Finally bit the bullet and bought this one after seeing it all over the place on this app. Nose was pretty mild with a wood note that I could not place. Palate was what its supposed to be, cherries with oak-ish charred flavors and only a hint of spice. Finish was mild as well with a suppressed burn. Honestly not as complex as i expected but definitely a major improvement over the yellow label. A daily drinker to be, but not just yet. 3.8/5

A clean bourbon with a soft and inviting palate. Its rich and woody with a stringent tone of oak tinged with cinnamon. The finish is lasting (medium) but not overbearing to the notes. I can see why this is a favorite mid grade bourbon. Its just right but not over the top in complexity. A standard neat drink would fit this label well. 3.9/5

An initial bout of a strong wood nose translates to the palate hard in this bourbon. Wood accents bombard the palate with a small introduction of vanilla hidden under cinnamon flavor. The finish is what you would expect at 94 proof. Medium to long finish leaves with an almost bitter yet enjoyable aftertaste. Its a weird bitter, like beating an old rival in chess albeit your opponent has consistently been crushing you for years bitter/sweetness. All in all a strong contender for moderately priced bourbon, although it tends to thin quickly. This prevents a 4 star rating from me honestly. 3.8/5

Well, for the $60 dollar price tag in my area...this is a more unique whiskey to me. Its strangely scotch like as some others have described it. Ive never really been able to detect a briny taste in American whiskeys but this one finally did it for me. I come away with a more smokey and peaty flavor, smooth on the palate with a mild finish. Hints of walnut and vanilla as well. This is a unique one for the shelf but not as an everyday whiskey. Something for gentlemanly occasions. Cigar would be welcome with this whiskey. 4.2/5

So when you come across a shelf with knob creek as the most expensive whiskey/bourbon on the top shelf, I chose a known brand I haven’t tried yet. The standard George Dickel. A staple of some whiskey drinkers, I opted for a try at $20 without the fear of overspending on something new to me. A soft warm nose with a strike of oak and possibly cinnamon. The palate is clean and smooth with the oak coming through without really any spice. The finish is delayed but present with a slight burn and again cinnamon or a hint of vanilla. I would say a staple of the industry but light on complexity. Easily a go to for the novice whiskey gentleman. 3.6/5

Well, easily the lightest whiskey I have tried to date. Very easy to drink and pleasantly sweet to the palate with vanilla and caramel notes. A slight wood aftertaste that o have yet to put my thumb on. Nothing extremely brandish about this bourbon but none the more complex than past first tasting. It would take a Ice ball the size of the death star to keep from watering it down to the point of uselessness. All in all, great for a summer night. Easy pick for a mid week afterwork delight. 3.8/5