Tastes

Tasting: 1.5 oz pour, neat in rocks glass. Nose (3.75): Apricots, apple, vanilla are forward. There is smokiness in the background. Not especially mind blowing on the nose, but enough to entice. Palate (4.0): Lots of vanilla and perhaps peach and honey. It has a sweetness much different then I get from regular Jack which was good. Oily mouthfeel that coats the palate well. The signature Jack Daniels smoke comes in at the back of the palate but not in the aggressive "charcoal and sticks" way the traditional JD does. Much smoother. Finish (4.25): Shines on a medium to long finish. The smoke continues with just a puff but then gives way to honeycrisp apples, and a bit of sweet tea. Lingers on the taste buds for a good long time making you want more. Overall: A very good dram. Not sure if the bottle price justifies it. I would like to try side by side with the barrel select and judge the difference. My thought is that the barrel select is the better bargain. Advice- try it first before you invest in a bottle. At under $100 it would be a hit. But where it is currently priced it is in with some competition. I would say though Jack Daniels has upped their game.

Second tasting notes and now half way through bottle. A little more head space and time in the bottle really helped this one. Nice red fruits, lots of cherry syrup, some plums, and oaky goodness. I get a cherry coke aroma that really is good. Only complaint is that a higher proof might have helped it......then it would morph into Stagg Jr. which I find pecularly similar but more distinct in flavor and finish. That said grab this while you can if you can find the ten year age statement bottles. It's a good one to always have in your arsenal. Gentle enough for occasional drinker, sophisticated enough for the more experienced crowd too.

Second sit down and taste with this one and the second tasting re-affirms my first. This is a STRONG offering. Letting it breathe off some of the ethanol and adding some water opens up some thick caramel, butterscotch, fruit (strikes me as grapey) and oak. But this is a spicy rye forward sip from the get go not to be trifled with. Newbies will hate it because it will seem too strong. It is a veteran dram and one you want to spend some time with to really appreciate. It is not any everyday bourbon it is a big gun and is a great barrel proof offering. As close as you will ever get to drinking right out of the barrel. Has that gritty, frontier man whiskey feel to it. I like it, I (don't exactly) love it.....I want some more of it.

Taste: 1 oz. in glen cairn first and then addition of 3 drops distilled water then rested for 15 minutes. Nose (3.75): Initial nose is a full on caramel, butterscotch, oak and ethanol. Traditional bourbon nose. Very upfront and not very complex. The ethanol hits you hard. Let it air out. Palate: (4.25) Straight out of the bottle it tends to be hot. The ethanol is strong and the palate intensifies from what's on the nose. I was not overwhelmingly approving of the palate without cutting it. Resting it with some water was different story entirely. Transformed the experience to taste bit-o-honey, candied apple, intensified the butterscotch. The ethanol and heat were just the right amount then. Again not a puzzling or complex bourbon, but just what you would want if you love to drink traditional aged bourbon that hasn't been amped up by an additional finish in a "spirit of the day" cask or sloshed around on a ship for awhile. Tastes from this one seem to be all barrel magic. Finish (4.0): When neat it was super spicy. Surprised me with spice and I must admit made me cough just a little. When neat it was a 3/5 and a little rough. With water and 15 minutes of patience it is a downright 4-5. Damn fine whisky! Overall- Definately a Heavan Hill product here without doubt. Reminds me of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and checks all the flavor profile boxes of quality Heaven Hill product. Well constructed and very pleasing. Water simply transforms it. My advice is that if you see it at MSRP ($40-45) buy it and bunker a few bottles. The word is getting out on this one because it is a sleeper and like the ECBP my guess is that it will head upwards of $60 and be on allocation by next year. The secondary market will be looking hard for it. Great bourbon to be on the ground floor with

Taste: 1 oz pour in Glen Cairn with 1 cube of ice Nose (3.75): Vanilla and almost like lemon pound cake come forward. A bit of oak. Not complex, very straightforward. I got a stronger nose in original neat tasting. The ice simplifies the nose a bit. Palate (4.25): Some honey-- almost like a bit o honey candy, vanilla, and distinct lemon poppyseed pound cake. The ice/water really enhanced this one on the palate and opened up a sweetness. Finish (4.0): I get a smooth burn from the ethanol, taste a bit of caramel and oakiness. Finish is medium and very traditional with some dryness. With ice this is a very straightforward and traditional bourbon. It is not adventurous but it is great quality. If you are looking for complexity it is not this one. This is a quality crafted bourbon. It is not a puzzler but an upfront sipper that I think may have been better with a bit of ice than neat. The ice quelled the medicinal taste that I wasnt an admirer of without hurting the palate and nose.

Taste: Chilled neatly in a glen cairn glass Nose: (3.5) Musty oak and barrel. Characteristic Wild Turkey nose which pleases me. Some vanilla but lacks some in complexity. Palate: (4.25) The oak is upfront but gives way to an almost peanut brittle sweetness. As it catches air it releases more flavor like cherry syrup, and rye bread. What this lacks in complexity on the nose it makes up for on the palate. It makes me want to study it more. Finish: (4.5) I love the finish. It balances sweetness and spice and then fades gradually without heating you up. It is a well conducted symphony on the finish. It is like rocking out to your favorite song after you have dialed up the perfect EQ. I am a big Wild Turkey admirer and not turned off by some of the "reputation" prejudice that the brand gets. I will say though that the price point is high by comparison to other Wild Turkey premiums. I got just as much enjoyment from Russell 10 yr SiB and Rare Breed for half the bottle price. That saying......go get you some Diamond Anniversary because now I feel a need to buy Master's Keep for a side by side comparison!

Taste: Glen cairn glass with one small ice cube. Nose (3.5): Boozy nose with alot of vanilla and ethanol. Spicy and bold. Wafted neatly before the ice gives some brown sugar. Palate (4.0): Vanilla and rye forward. Spiciness gives way to a rugged leather. The more it sits the better it gets. Finish (3.75): Long finish. Gives a little bit of flat coca cola on the back end along with some cinnamon. Stays with you for awhile

Taste: Neat in glen cairn at room temp then 1 small cube added Nose (3.75): Good bit of ethanol followed by red fruit and cherries. Detect a bit of citrus, perhaps orange. Palate (4.25): Cherries and brown sugar dominate with some heat. Adding a small bit of ice opens up some oak, vanilla, and cinnamon. Nice mouthfeel A bit of water or ice helps this one a great bit. A very solid pour and worthe bottle price under 60.00 Finish (3.75): Finish is long and lingers, slightly boozy with cinnamon and redhots.

Taste: Neat in glen cairn at room temperature Nose (4.25): Cherries and ripe red fruits dominate. Almost no alcohol on the nose. Palate (4.0): Very fruity and sweet. Ripe cherries and apple give way to honey and caramel. My biggest complaint is that it may be too dessert-like. Mouthfeel is thicker and rich. Very satisfying bourbon. Finish (4.25): Sweetness gives way to cinnamon and vanilla. Tends to linger but pleasing.

Tasting: Neat in glen cairn at room temperature. Nose (4.0): Butterscotch and vanilla wafer hit you first followed by a bit of ethanol. Palate (4.5): Caramel and vanilla are out front followed up by an almost toffee-like taste. Reminds me of caramel over baked apple pie. The mouthfeel is smooth and buttery. Heat builds into a sophisticated finish Finish (4.25) Medium to lingering. Oaky and smooth with notes of citrus and tobacco, cinnamon prevails. Overall: This is an excellent bourbon that if you can find under $100 is a definate buy. It is delicate yet spicy. It is well developed yet not overdone. If there is a down side, I wonder what it might be at a bit higher proof? If it were expressed at a barrel proof it might well go from being very good to great.