Tastes

Wonderful nose, some grain with a distinct grape/cognac scent. Honey color in the glass. No burn up front, only hits on the back but it’s an oaky burn, love it. At first tastes like it doesn’t want You to taste it, then it opens up into light smoke and grape back end. Medium finish is drying with oak tannins leaving a lingering grape note with no smoke. Easy drinker that smells more complex than it is perhaps, but still a very nice everyday whiskey.

Sweet nose with vanilla and sweet baking spices, like a finished bread. Smooth mouthfeel, hardly any burn. Vanilla front and center with cinnamon on the tongue. Medium finish lingers with a little smoke and more vanilla. Simple overall but a pleasant sipper that doesn’t need water or ice.

Cherry forward nose and palate. Definitely strong proof comes through but still delicious. Mouth drying finish at first then long finish that stays after the burn leaves. Behind the burn is a lovely whisky.

13 yo, 53.5%, batch 13443. Burn up front, kind of medicinal. Finish gives up lots of creme brûlée, a fantastic finish.

Tons of cherry on the nose with no ethanol burn. Thin mouthfeel with stone fruit and cherries. Strong vanilla finish that lasts awhile. Almost too sweet as cotton candy asserts itself, but kept in check.

Very sweet nose, unusually strong nose overall for a high proof whiskey with stone fruits, especially plums. Slight burn on front of the tongue that doesn’t overtake the fruit notes. Medium to full bodied mouthfeel continues the stone fruit theme with a very long finish. One of my favorites.

No heat on the nose, not much else either. Mouthfeel is oily and coating but not too thick. More char comes through on the palate with a numbing sensation, like chewing on clove or Szechuan peppercorns. Medium length finish with big bite in front of the mouth. Peanuts and some tropical fruit come through after the mouth recovers from the initial heat.

Typical Bookers nose, but not much heat noticeable. The mouthfeel is thinner but again typical, lots of caramel with some mint and black pepper. Heat on the front and back with tropical fruit coming through after the initial burn. Mouth-numbing finish. An ok batch, but not my favorite.

Warehouse W-L Floor 5 Rick 031 Barreled 10/14/04, selected by Breaking Bourbon 11/29/2018 Nose smells like a dark rum, super sweet with tropical fruit notes. Deep maple syrup color. Some burn up front on the tongue, but fades nicely to reveal caramel, black pepper, molasses and baking spices. Long finish warms the mouth with clove spice.

Mild nose with sherry and a little caramel, slight burn. Missing several times brings out more scents. Easy palate that reminds me of a macallan/speysider with a tiny bit of smoke, lots of sherry dark fruit notes. Sweet palate very easy to drink, with a medium and pleasant finish.