Tastes

Nose- Cigar box, creme brule, and leather book lead in. The nose reminds you of a richly apointed study with leather chairs, and fine cigar smoke hovering about the room. Palate- Spicier notes than 2023, and then fades to rich berries covered in nougat. It is a roller coaster of oak, chewy bulls-eye cream candies, and baking spices. This all fades to a cigar box type agedness that lets you know the older, oakier bourbons are unabashedly willing to come forward. Finish- lomg, coating, syrupy, yet leathery like your favorite chair. Nicely executed! Overall- One of the beat 4 Rs LE I have tasted. Brent Elliot just gets better and better. This rivals his 2019 hit, gently nuances his 2023 blend. For me, this is the bourbon I have trouble putting down.

2 oz in glen cairn without and then with 5 drops of water Appearance- dark cola color with thick running legs. One of the darkest finished straight bourbons I have seen to date Nose- Raisin and oak dominate. There is an underlying musty tobacco aroma too, which is brought out most with water added. Palate- without water this is bitter, tannic, raisin bran. Wasn't a fan at all. WITH water it is completely transformed! The oak is toned down but still there. The raisin is no longer bitter and almost more like black plum or fig. There is a currant " jaminess" that comes forward that is really pleasing. Finish- a dry oak bucket is the best way to put it. With water, that oakiness is put more to the background and raisins and perhaps bran cereal or bran muffin are the note to go out on. Overall- this is the tale of two bourbons. Without water it is almost abonimable. It is tight, all oak and raisin, and bitter from start to finish- a 2 rating. But water really moves it in the right direction. For 139.99 I am not going to re-seek this. As a unique and challenging bottle, I move the mark up. At the price point though, you are paying a lot to play the higher difficulty level. If you are patient to coax out some things there are rewards. For me, "the lemon isn't worth the squeeze."

Nose-bakery sweetness like a powdered donut. Hint of dusty corn in the background Palate- mouthfeel is a bit light. Candy corn, powder sugar, and a hint of musty tobacco. It is sweet and playful. Goes out on an almost cornpop cereal note Finish- short to medium finish, leaves me with a taste of raisin bran Overall- this is a sleeper! It is so "crushable." At 100 proof it is just right. It is sweeter, but balances the rum perfectly. The only flaw may be that the whiskey is noticeably younger.....which isnt such a bad thing. Yellowstone is doing it right here

Nose- sweet brown sugar, notes of chocolate, honey graham crackers. Palate- sweet, but not cloying. This tastes like a milk chocolate bar! It is creamy and rich. It is coating with an oak backbone Finish- shorter finish, bit goes out on that milk chocolate and raspberry flavor. Does not drink like its proof might suggest Overall- this is a definate BUY bottle. Normally I find most Maker's Mark consistantly, meh. This ine is a pleasant surprise! It is chocolatey, oaky, creamy. It goes down easy and is sneaky for its proof. I love the richness and chocolate bar flavor. At 79.99 it is a winner!

Nose- dusty white corn, cream soda, oak, and a hint of black pepper. There is also a signature Beam peanut odor to back it up. The nose is very inviting and balanced. Palate- It is tangy and crisp almost like apple cider would be. There is a touch of green apple, smokey oak, peanuts, and vanilla quickly then followed by pops of spices like cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. I really had to search for caramel, but a few drops of water made that revealed in plenty. Warm baked bread along with some heat comes on at the end. It is a tad drying at that spot, and perhaps turns a little citrusy as it moves to down the hatch. Water seems to change the citrus taste, and really helps that from being too acidic. Finish- I go out on a bit of caraway seed and black licorice. It is longer and lingering. Not in a bad way, but in a way that really showcases the rye towards the end. Overall- this is a strong addition to the lineup, and a super bargain at its price point. It is the delicate tightrope of balancing the rye and bourbon that I was most impressed with. You get the bourbon first followed by an almost completely rye finish. The flavors for the bourbon and then the rye come in almost as if they were staged or arranged to be that way. Sweeter nuttier, vanilla flavors at the front and then spicy, citrusy, elements going out. I weigh it up though VS. Wild Turkey's batches of Forgiven. For me it doesn't hit that mark, but it really is a schooling in the power of Jim Beam whiskies when beautifully blended. At 44.99 it is a definite bottle to have fun with.

Nose- this is such a complex and changing nose. At first it was oak, leatherbook and chocolate. Then with air more sweeter, fruit flavors come to the forefront- cherry, ripe red apple, fruit compote. Really have to study this one. The more it sits, the sweeter and fruiter the nose gets. Palate- first thing that strikes me is the chewy viscosity. It is luxuriously coating. I get a hit of cherry cough drop followed by musty leather and tobacco. There is some chocolate to it too. It takes it right to the verge of overoaked without being overoaked. There then becomes this sweetness like red crisp apples in apple pie. Not the more bitter granny smith, but those Washington state kind. It goes out on that note. Finish- long oaky, apple pie finish with some nutmeg. It just keeps going and going until you sip the next one. Really good. Overall- One of the best I have had to date. It is so complex and changing with every sip. To me, it is a bit of a Pappy Killer- I prefer this over that for the complexity, added spice, and beautiful balance. This takes RR13 batch 1 to a new level by imparting more oak without losing the fruit. Where RR13 was a fruit/caramel bomb, this is a fruit/chocolate/oak grenade! I hate the price, but love the liquid.

Nose- peach skins and yellow butterscotch candies. There is also a sweet piecrust (some might find it a bit yeasty like pizza dough), almost like peach cobbler. Very pleasant and crisp nose. Palate- peach cobbler with vanilla icing. There is a bit of candy corn in there too. That little touch of waxiness is interesting. It is fruity and a very pleasing sip. I like it. A touch of bitterness comes through towards the end though that I could live without. Finish- the finish is medium and has a hint of nutmeg on the end. Overall- This is a very nice 4 grain, wheated bourbon! The tad bit of bitterness toward the end of the sip is where perhaps some young whiskey shows through. It was the one note that I could have had less of. I was really digging the peach cobbler taste. I would really love this to be at a higher proof and I think at a cask strength it might knock ot out of the park The downproofing perhaps hurt it a little bit by some of those really nice fruit and pie crust flavors becoming a bit muted. I really like what Redwood Empire has done. They are making solid bourbon, and rye. This attempt at a 4 grain wheated bourbon is testament to the entire product line. The 80.00 price tag for a non barrel proof dismays me a bit. Is it worthy of that? No. Is it worthy of 60.00? It would be a standout in a sea of wannabees there.