Tastes

Nose - I'm immediately surprised how strong the orange scent comes through here. I expected a typical bourbon nose with a hint of citrus but the curacao takes front and center. Unfortunately the orange scent feels cheaper than more luxurious and reminds me of orange sherbet, snow cones, and candy. Not necessarily mature citrus flavors I'd want in a bourbon. All that said, the nose is still quite nice and intriguing and the orange scents mixed with baking spice, vanilla, and molasses provide a pleasant alternative to most bourbon profiles. Palate - This is much better than the nosing let on. The orange comes through very strongly but not offensively. It's very bright and refreshing and plays well with the other whiskey flavors noticed on the nose. To me this tastes like a high end premade old fashioned. It would be a wonderful dessert bourbon or as an interesting taster for guests but I probably wouldn't reach for this as a sipper. Simply put, bright orange citrus rounded out with sweet brown sugar, vanilla, and baking spices. If orange pie was a thing this would be it in liquid form. Finish - The finish truly is the best part of this experience. Somehow cinnamon spice comes out of nowhere and leaves a wonderful heat that plays very well with the diminishing orange profile. The medium length finish starts sweet and citrusy and slowly transforms into a warm cinnamon coating at the back of the mouth and down in the chest. Conclusion - This bourbon is beautifully different and I'm impressed that Bardstown could build such a heavy orange profile without it feeling gimmicky and cheap. It's not particularly my favorite whiskey and I generally prefer more subtle flavors but it's impressive nonetheless. As I mentioned before this would best be served as a dessert bourbon or to guests as an interesting alternative. Biggest downside is I don't want to pay $130 for an occasional use dessert whiskey or fun taster.

This particular single barrel selection is a 9yr, 120 proof bourbon selected for Atlantic Liquors in Rehoboth Beach Delaware. Warehouse - L Floor - 03 Rick - 022 Nose - Sweet molasses and brown sugar hit the nose first. After lingering, notes of maple and peppercorn come through. Woodsy scents particularly of pine needles also waft up near the rim of the glass. Reminds me of a fall BBQ. Spice and sweet notes are powerful and the nose itself is stronger than most even amongst other full proof bourbons. Palate - This is a hot bourbon. You'll most definitely notice the proof but the major nosing notes also come through very strong with oak and wood followed by sweet vanilla and brown sugar. Tobacco and worn leather round out the end of this sip along with more woody notes, showing the older age of this selection. This isn't overly complex but the flavors are wonderfully concentrated. The proof hits hard at first but once acclimated it allows the flavors to really punch through the alcohol. A couple drops of water didn't really bring out any new flavors save maybe a subtle lemony taste I didn't care for. I actually really liked the heat here so enjoy this one at full proof! Finish - Full of sugar and spice and good lord it doesn't end. The warm Kentucky hug after each sip didn't go away before the next. It was likely about 4-5 minutes after draining my glass that I noticed the flavor and finish finally subsiding. Conclusion - I thought this would be a good bottle but it's even better than expected. While the flavors of this whiskey were strong and enjoyable, it's truly the heat and long satisfying finish that I would keep coming back for. Some high proof bourbons can feel overwhelming or simply put off too much burn and ethanol smell but this one feels more comforting and cozy. It's a slow and satisfying hug and I'll most certainly be popping this bottle more often as we head into the cold winter months.

Nose - Quintessential bourbon notes of caramel, vanilla, and warm homemade bread. Slight hint of orange. A tiny tiny bit of alcohol burn could be dialed back. Very pleasant and simple nose. Palate - More caramel with a nice bit of brown sugar. This is a sweet, easy, and simple bourbon whiskey. It's not complex but checks all the bourbon boxes and should serve as a wonderful benchmark for an enjoyable and well made bourbon. Finish - The finish is surprisingly long and flavorful for a 90 proof bourbon. A nice reward for an already solid bourbon. A subtle bit of oak and spice round out the other aforementioned flavors here at the end. Conclusion - This is just an all around good bourbon whiskey. It's what I use as my benchmark for bourbon tasting as it ticks all the right boxes. It doesn't have any inherent flaws and provides a consistently enjoyable experience at an everyday price (for now). I'll always have a bottle on my shelf.

Nose - Summery floral, light apricot. Hint of smoke high in the glass Palate - Pear and orange zest. Tiny bit of nuttiness. Smooth honey flavor when going down. Finish - Medium length that starts with fruity flavors but ends up lingering with smokiness and pepper. Conclusion - A notch above a nice rounded single malt. Just enough complexity to be appreciated once moving on from the beginner scotches. Enjoyable sipper that doesn't require concentration to appreciate.