Tastes

Tasted this bottle for the first time with a group of friends and it was a big hit. Angel's Eny rye definitely leans heavily to the sweet side, practically a dessert whiskey. The nose is pure maple syrup. On the palate it's much the same, with each sip is like a big bite of waffles and syrup. After the initial burst of sweet maple goodness, there are some other underlying notes, there's slight pepper spice, some lemongrass, and something that brings to mind coconut curry for me. This one actually pushes the envelope of almost being too sweet, but not quite. Coming in at 100 proof it has just enough umph to balance out the sweetness. I think this one would appeal to a wide variety of people who may not be regular whiskey drinkers. This is a little to pricey and sweet to be a daily sipper, but as an occasional pour or after dinner treat, it's a perfect fit for me.

I've been enjoying this bottle sparingly since I opened it 6 months ago. I'm not likely to be able to find another 2020 limited edition at retail, and probably won't be able to find 2021 LE either. I'm just going to fall back on my previous tasting notes and savor this bourbon for the unique experience it is without taking the time to break it down again. This bourbon is sweet, smooth, rich, and has the perfect amount of spice. This is a good one, and I'm going to stretch the enjoyment out as long as I can.

Tried this one at friends house, now I'm tasting a bottle that was gifted to me. This one is a dark amber in color and is soft and sweet on the nose. Feel like I'm getting some sherry on the nose. Big notes of caramel and chocolate as it hits the tongue. Sort of a cinnamon graham cracker thing going on here as it goes down. I can definitely taste the influence of the Sherry cask finish, but not in an over whelming way. Smooth, with just a little spice, and a short finish. This is very enjoyable.

After tasting this about a week ago, I'm revisiting it. I poured a glass tonight and immediately picked up on a cherry note I didn't before. My quick notes tonight are cherry, chocolate, caramel, a nice spicy little kick and a finish that's mild leather and oak. I'm going to round up here from a 3.75 and give it a 4 this evening.

Alright, Alright, Alright! Wild Turkey long branch is exactly what you think it is, a smoother more mellow version of Wild Turkey 101. It's light gold, and has a light floral nose. The palate is classic bourbon, with caramel, vanilla, and light oak. It hits the sweetness mark for me right in the bullseye. I feel like you get a subtle taste of smokey mesquite as well. It really hits all the major notes with just the right proportion. Nothing overly complex. If it lacks anything it's the spicy bite and funk of it's sibling Wild Turkey 101, but that's not the intention here. It is lower proof, which I know is not fashionable among hardcore bourbon drinkers, but it's a great sipper if you're in the mood for something light and mellow. If you're like me and like to start your evening with something a little lower proof before diving into a barrel proof, this would be a perfect warmup. I like this a good bit more than I anticipated, and if it holds up as I work my way through the bottle, it might become a staple in my bar.

Bottle kill and final thoughts on Smoke Wagon Straight bourbon. I've enjoyed this bottle, but it really doesn't offer up anything unique. It's not available in my home state of Alabama so that's a big knock against it for me. If you can find a bottle in the mid $30 range it's worth a try, but I wouldn't pay much above that. This is a fine sipping bourbon. You may not get anything memorable from this bottle, but it does satisfies without having any unpleasant characteristics.

Tasted this 2 oz sample blind. The nose was different, I picked up maybe a peach and apricot, and something that reminded me of scotch. First taste and I was pretty sure it wasn't bourbon and probably not scotch, so I guessed American made whiskey which was good guess. I picked up very little sweetness. There's a tart citrus note, and a mesquite smokiness that pretty prevalent. Definitely tastes young with a substantial bite for the lower proof. The finish is peppery with an after taste that's smoke and licorice. I had fun trying this one blind. It definitely offers up a unique taste, but not likely one I would purchase for myself.

I'm tasting this as a 2 oz sample from a friend. I'm a little bummed it's just a 2 oz sample, because I would have loved a second pour. I'm predominantly a bourbon drinker, but I found this to be quite an enjoyable dram. I've only tried a handful of Scotches, and had been off put by the sour acidic taste I picked up from some of them. This is not the case with the Macallan. I get very subtle peat, a nice amount of smokey sweetness, stone fruits and on the tail end a bit of malt. This is a very easy drinking pour, and I think I just might want to sample a few more of Scotland's best.

This bourbon scores high for it's uniqueness, however I'm not sure it's one I would enjoy as a daily sipper. It's a great change up from your typical Kentucky bourbon taste profile. The barrels are aged out in the elements, and I feel like that really comes through in the finished product. I feel like I can taste that grey aged stave that's been sitting in the sun, rain, and snow for months and months. It's all about the peppery oak flavor here. If all your favorite Kentucky bourbons are starting to taste the same, give Woodinville a try to shakeup the lineup.