Tastes

Surprising depth for a cheap bourbon, which makes it a good value. Has a lot of herbal notes (something in the tarragon-basil-licorice space) to go with the classic flavors of oak and brown sugar.

This is a balanced bourbon and the high rye really comes in hard at the beginning. Sweet, toasty, butterscotch, marshmallow-vanilla, and a nice long oaky finish that warms without burning. Great cold weather sipper.

Ever wanted Maker's Mark to taste more intensely like Maker's Mark? That's what this is. If you like the classic wheat notes of hay/straw with that doughy accent, then you will like this. The nose is hot, but the palate is much smoother than you'd expect. I recommend letting this one breathe for a few minutes first.

Hard to find but worth it. High rye gives it a nice spicy vanilla character. Toasty and warm, but not much burn for something over 120 proof.

For a bourbon over 120 proof, this is surprisingly smooth and balanced. Lovely nose, it reminds me of Wilshire pipe tobacco with some brown fruit. Palate is sweet, fig on the forefront, and then a long vanilla oak finish. The high proof makes it tingle down the middle of the tongue, but it never burns. That tobacco-vanilla comes back on the exhale, so it's just a great experience from beginning to end.

The reviews all say the rich flavor outshines the incredibly high alcohol, but I disagree. The alcohol is so intense on the nose and palate that you have to focus past it to describe the flavor notes. And the burn on the tongue, throat, and esophagus wears out its welcome. And I tasted this with two others over 120 proof, so I don't think it was just a shock to the system. Now once you had a few drops of water, and then a few more, this opens up nicely and is very enjoyable. Caramel/toffee, vanilla, oak, and all that you expect from a classic bourbon. But can you find better at this price? Definitely.

A very pleasant sipper. I get caramel and brown spice, but also some tropical fruit. Very delicate and easy to drink.

Intense and complex, might benefit from a few drops of water.

Warm and rich. Some people complain this one feels too structured, but I can't complain about solid execution.

Sweet, mellow, slightly woody and warm. It's not very complex, but what it does is done well. And for the price, there's not much to complain about