Tastes

I have tried several bulleit offerings, but this is my first bottle of their standard bourbon. I've mainly been using this as a mixer, where it performs admirably, but on it's own it just doesn't work for me. Up front it has some decent sweet caramel and vanilla notes, but the finish is medicinal and bitter. I got this bottle almost for free, otherwise I can't see myself buying it again. It's a good enough mixer, but a little too high for sweetened cocktails.

The nose is pleasant with fruity notes and just a touch of ethanol. The palate has that same fruity or fruit cake note that many Old Forester offerings present, but there is also some toasted caramel too. There's a bit of cinnamon spice, too. The oak is subtle and there's a touch of bitterness on the finish. Just like my first impression of the nose, my summation of this one is pleasant. Nothing special, just pleasant.

The nose is a perfect predictor of the palate here, which is earthy raw peanut. There's a kick of rye spice and herbal bitterness which lingers. This one is a bit hot and definitely not too smooth. This is not a boring flavor profile, but I'm not sure it's one that I love either. It'll take a few more pours before I can render my final verdict.

Just had a very small sample of this, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I sampled 8-10 bourbons the day I tried this one, and I think it was my favorite. Can't recall much as far as tasting notes go, but I do remember sweetness, smoke, and rich oak. These bottles aren't cheap, so it might be a while before I get another pour of this one.

Had this at a bourbonham, a bourbon MS fundraiser in Birmingham, Al. It was a whirlwind. I tried 8 or 10 different bourbons in about three hours. My palate was overwhelmed...as was my sense of balance. All that aside, this one was the most unique pour of the day. Mint and smoke was what stood out. So much mint. It's not a flavor profile that I loved, but it's uniqueness sets it apart.

Finished bourbons are hit or miss with me, and this one seems to be closer to a hit. These Daviess County finished bourbons aren't available here in Alabama, but a friend of a friend works for lux row and got them a bottle. Not nearly as dry as some of the wine cask finishes I've had, this one was dark and rich. I got dark dried fruits and some tobacco notes. I only had a small pour, so I didn't really get a good examination. Hopefully I can bum another dram soon.

Bottle kill. This one didn't last long, not because it was just such a great pour, but because it was relegated to a low proof mixer. This one had very little appeal for me. It wasn't awful, but I can't see myself ever purchasing another bottle. I'm glad I scored this one super cheap.

This is a sad day indeed. I am having my last pour of my Four Roses 2020 limited edition. Very likely the last 2020 I'll ever enjoy, and probably the last 4R limited I can expect for a long time. Sipping it neat tonight, it's pure bourbon magic. It's absolutely the best bourbon I've ever had. It's so rich and It hits every note perfectly. Now, coming back down to earth, it's an indulgent splurge I would gladly make at retail price, but paying secondary for this bottle is ridiculous. Don't mind me though, I think a paying hundreds or even thousands for any bottle is absurd. I really, really loved this bourbon, but I can get plenty of enjoyment out of a $24 bottle of Wild Turkey 101 shared with friends.

The nose is very nice, sweet honeysuckle and light oak. This is very nice on the palate as well, with smooth sweet cherry notes and caramel. There's just a little oak and not much in the way of spice. The finish is short and sweet. This one is easy drinking and mild. If it has a fault it may be a bit too mild. Really like this one. In my area it retails for around $60, which is overpriced in my opinion. Fortunately I picked this one up for much less, otherwise I might opt for something else. I will definitely enjoy this bottle though