Tastes

Finally brought myself to the town where this was available, at a cool $25 dollars might I add. This bourbon was recommended via this app and I was pleased to experience it. A strong bourbon for the price. Heavy on wood/oak notes initially with a caramel note on the nose. Stout in presentation but with a splash of water you would find this drink on the bottom of my shelf. This is an easy entry mark for the inquisitor to neat whiskey. Finish is less than harsh and warm to the palate with accents of vanilla and spices. I dig but to call forward to another offering, to which I will not name without parentheses (eagle rare 10) you would be better served a tasting of a similar bourbon without the loss of taste under ice. 3.5/5

Well, the name speaks for itself. Since I have begun my continental quest for bourbon and whiskey, it wasn’t uncommon to find Four Roses at the top of most charts. This appears to be the entry level by most recommendations. Its a sweet taste and mild on the nose at first whiff. Initially a startlingly strong and harsh typical lower shelf whiskey taste that almost put me off entirely. On second tasting it rebutted with a more complex wood and spice note that eased my senses. Taken back to why it was so harsh initially may be revealed by its yellow label status, but as off putting as the initial impression was, it opened up to be much more appealing. Im torn on this one because one one hand I want to love it but on the other I want to criticize it. Where the criticisms are minor this whiskey did live up to the reputation and became quite enjoyable. Im intrigued to find the next level up and let its reputation speak for itself. Bottom line ; a decent bourbon for a rocks entry. 3.5/5

Well. Having full intention of continuing my pursuit for bourbon under $50 I had the resolve to try Buffalo Trace for the first time when I was interrupted by the stocker in the store. He pointed me in the direction of this bottle and stated it had been flying off his shelves and I would be inclined to try Eagle Rare if I should feel adventurous. Emboldened by this challenge I resolved to buy this bottle without knowing anything about it. Adventure always starts where you least expect it and damned I would be to turn my back to intrigue. I digress, upon arriving home I found this bourbon to be pleasantly poured from a seemingly dubious wine bottle. A dark amber liquid with a not-to-oily consistency starts off with a strong taste of oak/maple notes and was instantly sweet to the tongue...only to be reminded that this is indeed a bourbon good sir and it would like to remind me of its origin with a strong lasting burn. Toned down with a cube of ice and you would never have known of this harsh yet fond sensation. Along side the wood notes is a mild cherry top without the reservations of presuming this liquor to be a desert. Strong and full bodied with a sweet side it has reliability written all over it. This adventure must continue to the 17 year bottle should I find one. 3.8/5

Quite an impressive delight. Bought this for $20 at a liquor store that at one time was a church. This holy place of liquor offered me this bottle, in the heart of The Ozarks, along side a free rocks glass. Backstory aside, this 90 proof bourbon has surprised me with a strong initial bite of alcohol, suddenly and inauspiciously given way to a lead of flavors toning to cherry and apple notes. Strong and fulfilling middle with a burn at the end that would make one lust for one more. Quite surprisingly a dubious find with a rewarding finish. A perfect match for an evening in the Missouri Ozarks. 4.3/5

A good way to describe this whiskey would be to just say four words. Brown Sugar, Smooth, Thin, Sweet. Not great but sneaks up on you like a submarine. Elegant yet minimal in complexity. Like in chess it has a strong opening, quiet middle game, and clever endgame. 4/5

With a lick or two of water, this baseline bourbon opens up quite nicely. Bit of a chemical type lingering burn after first taste, replaced by subtle vanilla and a loud spice. Good for a cold winter day. 3/5

A solid entry for learning to appreciate what it is to drink whiskey neat. A good bar whiskey when options are limited. Verdict 3.5/5