Tastes

Pour: Chilled in glen cairn with one small cube. Open for 15 minutes Nose: (4.0) Not overpowering alcohol for proof. Sweet and bakery-like. Vanilla and rye dominate. Palate (4.25): Rye is upfront with bakery spice and cinnamon. Mellows to an almost gingersnap flavor when the spice kicks in. Finish (4.25): Gingersnap turns a bit citrusy, alcohols comes in to warm the senses. Smooth and lasting lemon poppyseed muffin type finish. Overall (4.25/5) This is a good rye. Bit pricey for a single barrel rye of 6 years but worth it.

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.