Tastes

Batch No. 19K07R Open 4 months Nose - Caramel, toasted nuts, berry compote, gingerbread, medium oak and ethanol. Palate - Light and sweet up front, molasses, creme brulee, gingerbread, hint of dark chocolate, raisins. Medium-long finish with some oak tannins, but the spicy and sweet gingerbread notes are most prominent. For a 2 year old bourbon from a small distiller, this is really good stuff for the money. It also has little in common with Jack Daniel's or George Dickel despite being from TN. It tastes like a frosted spiced cake with raisins, berries, and nuts, the perfect dessert around Christmas. It is more similar to the Texas whiskeys I've had in part due to the sweet malted barley they incorporate. The viscous, sweet qualities will have you thinking of Ironroot and Balcones.

Batch B1-20 57.6% abv, 115.2 proof Open 3.5 months Nose - Bright orange compote, butterscotch, honey, green apple, grass and grain, strong ethanol. Palate - Biting and tingly ethanol up front, vanilla cake, buttery shortbread, golden raisins, unripe green apples, roasted cashews. Medium-long finish with oily citrus and sweet floral notes, cereal grain and malt, unfrosted vanilla cake, and mellower than expected ethanol after the initial burst on the tongue. At first, this was too much. The alcohol and pot still congeners on the nose and palate were overwhelming when I first cracked the bottle. But after a month of letting it settle, it's a much more pleasant experience. This was my first cask strength Irish whisky, and it is an all-encompassing pour similar to cask strength Islay, but substitute the peat for cereal grain and alcohol bite. There aren't many options out there to compare with, but I'm looking forward to picking up a Blue Spot when I have the chance. Overall, this is really good but I think it's slightly overrated in the whiskey tasting community.

Open 3 months 58.7% abv, 117.4 proof Nose - Sharp orange and lemon peel, light dill, honeysuckle, butterscotch, light rye spice, medium ethanol. Palate - Citronella candle, honey, cereal grain, light cocoa, nutmeg, spicy rye, tannic oak. Medium-long finish with sharp oak and rye, citrus oils, bitter honey, and black pepper. This is a solid rye for the price, but it doesn't excel in any category. There are a few ryes in the $40-50 range I would rather buy again, but you won't be disappointed with this. Plus, with the classic rye flavors and high abv, it is an excellent mixer if you're not feeling it neat.

Part of a Barrell virtual tasting event that provided free 2 oz samples for NCWH. Sample provided was 113.54 proof. Nose - Aged chardonnay, golden raisins, grape brandy, funnel cake, medium ethanol. Palate - Stewed apples and pears, maple sugar, chocolate covered orange, funky corn. Medium finish, pit fruits and candy, light oak and rye spice. I'm overrating this because it's the 5th of 2 oz pours. I'm drunk.

Part of a Barrell virtual tasting event that provided free 2 oz samples for NCWH. Sample provided was 123.8 proof. Nose - WHOA, overwhelming sugar cane, musty rum funk, warm apple pie, frosted biscotti, medium ethanol. Palate - Rum, rum, rum, apple pie, candied almonds, molasses, maple candy. Surprisingly medium-short finish compared to the others, lasting hint of molasses and cinnamon apples. This is way too easy to drink. I think this being the 4th in my tasting lineup of 2 oz samples is affecting my score.

Part of a Barrell virtual tasting event that provided free 2 oz samples for NCWH Nose - Citrus rind, limoncello, rye spice, grass and grain, butterscotch, medium ethanol. Palate - Sweet citrus and caramel drizzle, grain, corn dust, shiny rye. Medium-long finish, mouthcoating, loads of citrus and rye spices, tannic oak on the back end. Fantastic rye, obviously pricey but its amongst the best I've had. Glad it was a free sample!

Part of a Barrell virtual tasting event that provided free 2 oz samples for NCWH Nose - Sweet oak, mineral and chalk, caramel, toffee, vanilla, almonds, mild ethanol. Palate - Toffee, bread pudding, almonds, cinnamon bun, cocoa, nutmeg. Smooth and spicy finish with a back end of rye, oak, burnt sugars, allspice, nutmeg, and vanilla. This is delicious. To me it has a significant percentage of old George Dickel in the blend, so if you like GD you'll like this.

Part of a Barrell virtual tasting event that provided free 2 oz samples for NCWH Nose - Cereal grain, brown sugar, corn dust, cinnamon, allspice, medium rye and ethanol. Palate - Light brown sugar, sweet corn, toasted marshmallow, peanut brittle. Finish is medium-long with sweet oak, moderate ethanol, pleasant rye spice and sugars. It isn't overly tannic or dry for the proof and minimum age blended.

Open 2 weeks Nose - Toasted peanuts and almonds, caramel, chocolate covered cherries, citrus rind, cinnamon, medium ethanol. Palate - Both light and oily when it first hits the tongue, if that makes sense. Flavors are lacking at first, I only get hints of caramel, almonds, and chocolate. That sounds like a standard combination in a brittle, fudge, or ice cream. The finish makes up for the lack of diversity on the palate. It is long, oily, and viscous, with sweet oak, cinnamon, orange zest, cocoa, and dried cherries. Ethanol is light and manageable. I look forward to the triannual release of ECBP more than any other whiskey at this point. Unfortunately, the price has gone up $10 in 2021, making this a $70 buy in NC. Despite the price increase, it still ranks among the best values in bourbon. The A121 is a middle of the road ECBP release compared to the last 3 years. It is not close to standouts like C919 and B520, but it is not a dud like B519. It will satisfy most ECBP fans without blowing them away. Some flavors more pronounced in A121 compared to prior batches are nuts and citrus. Otherwise, you'll recognize many of the same flavors typical for ECBP.

Just bought this tonight. Quick hit review, it's really freaking good. Maybe my favorite Maker's Mark yet, it's hard to put down this glass at the moment. Rich cherries and berries, plums, molasses, crème brulee, tobacco, sweet oak, it has it all. Big complex nose but creamy fruity oak on the tongue. Highly recommend picking one up.