Tastes

The 82 Distiller rating is a little harsh, in my estimation. Maybe it's just because the Russell family seem like such great folks, maybe it's because I'll take a high rye bourbon over a wheater any day, maybe it's because I desperately want to be in a newgrass band called Wild Turkey in the Straw (I have strange dreams). Regardless, this is a very solid, approachable bourbon that's a good indicator of the distillery style. The nose is a spice monster - cinnamon, black pepper, cayenne pepper, clove, nutmeg, and then some vanilla and the slightest hint of caramel. The palate is spicy and punchy, with all those spices coming to life, along with some vanilla and (I swear to God) cilantro at the finish. There's some burn and bite, but at 101 proof, it could be a whole lot worse. I added a few drops of cool water since most everything that bears the stamp of the Russells does well with water or ice (or sticking it in a freezer a la Jimmy Russell and Rare Breed), and sure enough, it did bring it a nice chocolate note while pulling back the spices a bit. It's a fine bourbon, especially for the $20-ish price range...and all those spices are going to make for a great, stand-up-and-sock-it-to-me mint julep for Derby Day tomorrow.

I paid a whopping $21 for this. My expectations matched the price - "hey, if it's alright, then great; if not, it'll probably make a decent mixer." I'll be doing my mixing with something else, let's just say. Bourbon, or at least budget-conscious bourbon, usually has a certain predictability to it. Caramel, vanilla, a little spice, a little bit of a rough-edged, young spirit energy and burn, not particularly complex. This ain't that stuff. No, Old Ezra's been aged long enough to have rounded off those rough edges - even at 101 proof, this is a smooth mamma-jamma with minimal burn...only a little tease of heat at the very end. That absence of burn makes it easier to enjoy the nose (vanilla, caramel, chocolate fudge, peanut butter, cinnamon...reminded me of those Turtles candies), and the palate. This...it's a unique flavor. A local creamery makes a killer chocolate peanut butter ice cream (with a BIG ribbon of real peanut butter in it..it's exquisite), and that's what this reminds me of. A sweet, creamy vanilla base, with milk chocolate, peanut butter, cinnamon honey, and a little hint of caramel. Amazingly, it's not overly sweet despite all of this. I'm really impressed, but you shouldn't go out and buy it. I, rather selfishly, want the price point on this to stay nice and low...I just saw Larceny selling for $40 a bottle, so we know what happens when too many people start talking. If this were at a higher price point, I'd call it a 4 star bourbon, but for $25 or less? That merits an extra star just for value.

A nice port finish can be a thing of beauty, full of bright, berry notes and a little nuttiness. It's an intriguing, often brilliant, complement to a fine whisky...Tomatin 14 comes to mind right away. Here, you're mostly just getting the port notes. I can't discern much of anything that says "this is a bourbon" other than the label...the nose is all candied nuts, Circus Peanuts marshmallows, and ripe strawberry. The palate, similarly, has honey roasted peanuts, strawberry, and even blueberry notes, but other than a hint of vanilla, there's nothing particularly bourbon-y to be found. It's tasty for what it is, but I don't see myself craving it, either.

The standard bottling of Knob Creek was my first experience with "fine bourbon," so to speak...very specifically, drinking it on the rocks while in the bar on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building here in Chicago. This, the higher proof, single barrel sibling of the basic Knob Creek, is a hyped up version of the good and the bad that Knob Creek offers. On the plus side, the flavors here are lush and rich - lots of caramel, cinnamon, ginger, maple syrup, all with a beautiful, buttery mouthfeel. The downside is that there's nothing particularly complex or unique, other than perhaps the strong maple note. It is what it is. What it is, fortunately, is quite tasty, but this isn't the kind of bourbon that'll redefine for you what bourbon can be. It's just a solid, reliable dram...but there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you're not expecting your mind to be blown.

It was a rainy, chilly date night with my wife. We left our four month old daughter with my in-laws, saw a matinee movie, and then checked out a new sushi and Asian fusion restaurant near my in-laws' place that they'd recommended. Beyond good food and a great ambience, they had this fine stuff behind the bar...as any good Japanese establishment should. I was impressed; even in a rocks glass, the nose is pleasantly floral, with a bit of fresh stone fruit, light vanilla, and a bit of spice...almost incense. The palate most definitely has sandalwood and cedarwood, along with vanilla, milk chocolate, lemon peel, a little peach, and a tiny hint of smoke. It made a great accompaniment to sashimi. I don't know that I would spring for a bottle at its current $60-ish asking price, but as a go-to for sushi dates with my wife....I'll gladly bite.

One of my favorite movies is The Big Lebowski. At one point in the movie, Sam Elliott's cowboy character asks the bartender at the bowling alley if they have any more of "that good sarsaparilla." Upon hearing that they have Sioux City sarsaparilla, he goes "yeah...that's a good one." I feel like this bourbon is like that - the exemplar of, yeah, that one's a good bourbon. It scratches all the right bourbon itches: an almost copper penny color, a nose loaded with vanilla, spice, coconut, chocolate, leather, and caramel, and a palate that screams "now THIS is a bourbon." Chocolate ice cream with a caramel ribbon, sopapillas with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream, that lightly drying sense of tobacco and old leather, a just-sweet-enough cherry cola that emerges with a little extra time in the glass. For a 100 proof offering, it's very smooth, too. I struggled with whether to call this a 4 or a 5; my "if I have to think about it, it's a 4" rule stands. It's an excellent bourbon; perhaps not the most striking or fresh take on things, but it's a good one.

I was a little underwhelmed. I mean, you'd think that Wyoming would be a perfect place for a good, old-fashioned, American style whiskey, right? Cowboys and bison and old forts and the Oregon Trail and all that...you can practically hear the creaky saloon doors swing open for you. But, much like how a quick trip north from Colorado reveals that Wild West-sounding places like Laramie and Cheyenne are now home to lots of generic strip malls and single family houses, the romance of the Golden West doesn't quite make it past the promotional materials here. The nose is nice enough - apple pie a la mode and Raisinets. The palate, however, is kind of an uninspired letdown, the equivalent of mediocre Chinese takeout joints next to a Verizon store and a Payless. There's just not much to distinguish it here - some vanilla and caramel and spice, and a surprising grape jelly note at the finish, but that's about it. Is it bad? No. Is it exciting? Only if you'd like to ride your horse into the sunset...on your way to Qdoba. Addendum: With time, this opened up wonderfully - loads more flavor. Waves of vanilla, spice, raisin, grape jelly, dried fig and apricot. I've upped my rating by a star, and I'm encouraged to explore more offerings from the distillery!

Confession time - when I originally reviewed this and raved about how good it was, I was actually drinking the Hand Selected Barrel 9 year old. That stuff is to die for, and you should track it down. I'm migrating my old review to the right product, and giving the real Barrel Select a visit. Suffice it to say this was a happy little accident, however! The nose on the real deal is warm and inviting, with caramel popcorn, banana, chocolate, and woody spice. The palate is a humdinger - the perfect amount of sweetness, with ripe cherry, vanilla, buttery popcorn, a little chocolate, and baking spices. The finish lasts a nice little while. I'm keeping this at five stars; it's still everything I could ever want in a Tennessee whiskey and a really good value at less than $50. Now, the big question - is it better than the Hand Selected Barrel? That might require a side-by-side sampling...hmm, challenge accepted.

This is Tennessee's reason for existence. The state peaked when this was released; it's only downhill from such a summit. The dram is nearly everything I could ask for in a bourbon or Tennessee whiskey: a nose that's bursting with orange peel, cherry, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and a little buttery corn, and a rich, smooth palate that integrates those elements from the nose with a leathery aged note and ends with a spicy, creamy, long chocolate caramel finish. Three cheers to the Volunteer State!

Jameson's entry-level whiskey was my real point of departure into appreciating the good ol' water of life rather than just abusing Kentucky Deluxe to get sloshed at college parties. Obviously, I've developed a more...discerning palate since my early 20s, but the distillery has always held a place in my heart. The good news here is that Jameson and co. have also developed a more discerning palate over the years, too. The Irish whiskey revival is lifting all the boats in the harbor and is rewarding us with treasures like this offering, which is a far cry from the basic Jameson bottling. Real thoughtfulness went into the crafting of the spirit, with wood at the forefront (as befits a dram named for the cooper). The signs of good quality oak, of a variety of sorts, are present on the nose - vanilla, a variety of spice notes, sawdust, and coconut suggest a heavy American oak presence, with enough nuttiness to give away the usage of some ex-sherry casks. The palate is what a good Irish blend should be - clean and fresh, with vanilla, candied lemon peel, dark chocolate, spices, and a bit of tropical fruitiness. Very bright, very clean, very focused. I debated on whether to give this 4 or 5 stars; if I have to debate it, then 4 it is. That said, I have zero regrets about springing for the bottle...and its light, fresh profile will make it a great dram now that the weather's getting warmer.