Tastes

Nose (3.5): Spicy and minty on the nose with vanilla backing it up. Classic Wild Turkey barrel funk whether you love or hate it. Palate (4.5): Vanilla and spice are the majority players here. Rich with a nice mouthfeel. The spicy richness kicks in. Reminds me of apple spice cake with sweet vanilla frosting Overall: 3.8/5. It has good elements but I would recommend Russel Reserve 10 SiB over it. Finish (3.75): Spicy and warming a bit on the alcohol burning side. Leaves a spearamint aftertaste which kind of hurts the vanilla and oak that want to come through.

Solid bourbon flavors builds to a slow long finish. It has vanilla, graham cracker, and spice whuch make it a good sipper. Never lets me down. This might be one of the best values in bourbons under $50.00.

Of the whiskey row selections this may well be my favorite. Nose (5): Caramel, apple, and peanutty. Sweet and aromatic. Classic bourbon nose. Palate (4): Nose continues on to palate. No major surprises. Reminds me of a fresh taffy apple with a touch of smoke and brown sugar. Finish (4.5): Just the right finish. Warming, not burning, crisp and a bit chewy. Medium aftertaste makes you wanting to sip more. Overall 4.5.

Tasting: B518 from glen cairn glass both neat and then with cap of water. Appearance: Amber and slightly oily, plenty of legs and reddish hue. Nose: (5.0) Very nose forward bourbon. Notes of oak, butterscotch, toffee, vanilla with spice. Ethanol hardly noticed as compared to proof. Palate: (4.5) toffee, carmel, leather and more oak/ barrel taste, dark fruit and red apple in the background. Very rich with thicker mouth feel. A bit oily but pleasing. Spice comes in at the end with alot of heat. Adding water brought out more fruit and syrup, kind of like a cherry jolly rancher. More complex with water added. Really opens up a new level and cools the burn. Finish (4.5): Long lasting with spice, oak barrel and more toffee. This is a great barrel proof. You could sit for an hour and discuss the flavors that play well with each other. The nose however is the star.

Nose (3.75): Brown sugar and plums. Slightly ethanol for proof but dissipated quickly. Sweeter than the 1920. Palate (4.5): Burnt brown sugar, raisins with some carmel and vanilla underlying. Very good sipping neat might not hold up as well in mixed drink. Finish (3.75): Plumbs and sugar and then the heat comes in. Kind of cinnampn-apple. Finish is quicker with good aftertaste. Higher proof may have sustained finish but all in all petty pleasing. If you like Statesman this has similar profile with nicer nose and a bit richer. I like it dead even with the 1920.

Sample: Neat in glen cairn glass Appearance: (4.0) Really nice reddish to amber hue. Some legs. Nose (3.0): Bit of nail polish aroma which was a distraction followed with some vanilla and oak. Palate: (4.0): Medium oaky with some baked apples and cinnamon. Bit of spiciness but nothing overwhelming. Vanilla intensifies from the nose. A favorable palate. Finish (3.75): Quicker finish with a nice warming to it. A bit of mint and a dash of pepperiness with woodsy character. Very drinkable. I liked the finish although I might have liked it to be a little longer I would definately buy again. A nice compliment to Whiskey Row Collection. I like 1920 a tad better.

A seriously good whiskey that has opened my eyes to quality rye. Normally I shy away from the spice and prefer wheated bourbons but this one was different. A super well balanced flavor bomb that intrigued at every sip. Nose: Creme Brule, vanilla, and pastry. A wonderful nose that doesnt hint of alcohol. Palate: Loads of caramel and sweet vanilla. Gives way to a flan like custard taste and then the spice comes in. Finish: Bakery spices balanced with rye. Burn is hot but not overly done. I tried neat in glen cairn and then chilled in fridge for 15 minutes with 1 small cube of ice made it even better.

Nose: Weakest part of this bourbon. Alcohol dominates, has a bit of floral soapy smell. Some oak. (2/5) Palate: Nothing like the nose. Bits of burnt brown sugar, leather, tobacco give way to pepperiness. Very tasty and interesting. (4/5) Finish: Pleasantly caramel, lingers as it coats. Burn is medium and warming. All and all an above average finisher (3.5/5) If 3.5 were option that is where I would put it. I prefer the Prohibition 1920 which has a much sweeter nose and better developed flavors

Nose: Toffee, honey, caramel with a bit apple. Very pleasing nose Palate: Slightest of burn, very smooth. Can taste caramel and vanilla, bit of green apple and oakiness. Deliciously mellow. Finish: Burn is even, finishes medium. Mellow oak and vanilla follow through with slight brown sugar. IF you can find this AND for a fair price it is the very best under $50 bourbon. It tops some bourbons in excess of $100 in my book. Bourbon how it should be.

Better the second time around after bottle had the chance to breathe. Nose is caramel corn, and mashmallow. Palate is sweet with a pleasant crackerjack flavor, some butter and pastry. Finish is where it drops off a bit with an astringent burn. You can cool it with water without hurting the flavor. All and all this is a 3-3.5 on merit alone, a solid 4 if you consider the value. I like it and would buy it again