Tastes

Dumped on 9-12-18, barrel #1571 Re-evaluation really opened this bourbon up. I can get the hype, but I won't pay over retail for a bottle. Nice complexity, but the palate seemed to ebb and flow in balance. Sometimes, the sweetness was too loud. Others, the spices took the experience on a savory trip. While often, they all found themselves intermingled and transitioned smoothly presenting that complexity gently. Just not often enough for this bottle to make its way onto my personal "Top Shelf". Also, a Thanksgiving blind tasting had Basil Haydens beat out Blanton's by a landslide. A verdict that I still uphold, having tasted both side by side again. Overall, I will say its a good bourbon that shows flashes of greatness. But, not a white whale. Aroma: Banana pudding, acetone, & spices. Flavor: Vanilla, black pepper, oak, & tobacco. Aftertaste: Salted toffee, vanilla wafer, & tobacco. Body: Medium

Pretty unimpressed with Act 6 Scene 5, but have heard amazing things of the previous acts. Immediately, the nose was unpleasantly dill and alcohol. As expected with a fairly high proof. Opens up to allow cinnamon toast to take over with some warm plum, but the dill remains. Burn and wood assault the palate like a young whisky might, but the calm down and allow pleasant rye and barrel characteristics. I found red fruit, speaking to the port finish, with warming spices and rye, but plenty of alcohol burn and airiness with a maple syrup sweetness throughout. The aftertaste bites at first with more alcohol, but warms with spiced pear and oak, unfortunately the dill note returns, overshadows, and makes the entirety feel discordant. Aroma: Cinnamon toast, dill, & plum. Flavor: Red fruits, alcohol, oak, cinnamon spices, & maple syrup. Aftertaste: Spiced pear, dill, & oak. Body: Medium-heavy, thinning as it opens up.

OWA is my favorite of the bunch. Starts off simply with a pretty standard aroma and taste that opens up and washes over you with intense flavors. Sweet and flavorful with everything you expect from Weller's wheated mashbill plus more burn, warmth, and complexity than Special Reserve. Aroma: Flan, spice, & candied orange. Flavor: Vanilla, dried fruits, cinnamon, & flan. Aftertaste: Oak, toasted marshmallow, & alcohol burn. Body: Medium

The aroma is somewhat lacking for a bourbon of this caliber and proof. Indistinguishable fruit, with nice caramel that gets lost after a moment to the alcohol. First impressions, I expected more out of the 2018 Best Bourbon and Best Single Barrel Bourbon from San Francisco World Spirits Competition. But, then you get to the palate. Not an overly complex whisky. The fruitiness and caramel carry over to the tongue as you get some of the oak you would expect of a well aged bourbon, but not too much. You're not overpowered by splinters as you get some nice spice and cream soda. The aftertaste was particularly pleasant with butterscotch and barrel. Overall, much better than I remember 3 years ago (last time I had a pour). I see the merit, and hope to appreciate what San Francisco saw in the bourbon as I sip away. Aroma: Fruity, caramel, & alcohol Flavor: Fruity, caramel, oak, cinnamon, cream soda, & rye spice. Aftertaste: Butterscotch & oak Body: Medium-heavy

Aroma: Orange candy, vanilla, leather, & brown sugar Flavor: Vanilla, caramel, fresh mint, & red apple. Aftertaste: Vanilla bean marshmallow & leather. Body: Medium It's been awhile, but I returned to Elijah Craig Small Batch after it won 2018 San Francisco World Spirits best Small Batch Bourbon. The profile reminds me of Weller 12yr of 3 years ago. Not a very complex whisky, but it is all tasty. That marshmallow aftertaste was especially pleasant, and the fresh mint took me awhile to pin down but adds a nice refreshing aspect to an otherwise warm and slightly spicy bourbon. I can see how this stood out among other Small Batches this year, though I wouldn't say it's my favorite on the list, especially considering their Barrel Proof was involved as well.

Aroma: Cherry limeade, caramel, & oak. Flavor: Candied apple, slight cornflake, & melon. Aftertaste: Anise, honey and citrus oil, & charred oak. Body: light-medium Beautiful rich color and one of my favorite aromas. I try to keep some in stock as a staple. I hear some people knocking the SR, but as a budget bourbon it's quite good. Smooth, complex, sweet, and with a pleasant finish. I always try to stock up on SR when I can find it. I'd give it 4 stars if it weren't compared to the Antique 107 or 12yr.

Aroma: Vanilla cream & baking spices Flavor: Cane sugar, spicy, sparkling, orange zest, & savory oak. Aftertaste: Cinnamon & pleasant tobacco smoke Body: Medium-heavy I was pleasantly surprised here. Rich body and a nice spice and smokiness, but a little unbalanced sweet. I don't get a lot of browned sugars here, more cane sugar or refined. Tasty and strong, but for the price I wouldn't repeat. Worth the experience for the rarity, but this won't be a shelf staple. 3/5

Aroma: Mango & flan Flavor: Mango, toasted coconut, & floral honey. Aftertaste: Long & sweet, soft caramel, &mouthwatering orange candy Body: Medium-light Wow, I've had my share of Evan William's Single Barrell, but this was phenomenal. Barrel 602, 5 days shy of 8 years is fruity on the nose and carries over to tropical mango and toasted coconut on the palate. Very smooth with very little burn or char coming through, which is odd for a bourbon of this age. Well balanced, slightly unbalanced sweet, could use more barrel to round out the overall experience. Very nice and moves to the top of my underrated and underpriced list.

Aroma: Stone fruit, floral, oak, & hay. Flavor: Cherry jolly rancher, cinnamon, charred oak, hernal, & floral. Warm vanilla, honey, cocoa tea, & hay. Aftertaste: Spiced honey, orange zest. Body: Heavy, syrupy, & round Each aspect of this bourbon is loud. You can smell it from across the room, and each sip shares something new. Heavy, boozy, and delicious it immediately hits the palate like candy before opening up. It is powerfully balanced with exceptionally pleasant complexity even at 136proof. A surprising steal at the price for what is now in my top 5.