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Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Distiller Score 89
Daviess County Straight Bourbon presents a charmingly distinguished character on all fronts. The nose is gentle but expressive, with maple syrup, buttered biscuit, and sweet corn all evenly intertwined with a tempered barrel char. Flavors of caramel apple, baking spice, and vanilla coast across the palate. The body of the whiskey is smooth and lively. Great for sipping, but also bottled at a strong mixing proof.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon French Oak Finish
Distiller Score 91
A well-balanced use of French oak, which can be tricky with a spirit as muscular as bourbon. Right out of the glass is a rush of floral and pastry (think pound cake) notes that are held tightly together by sturdy rye and spice aromas. The palate is lush with nut and pear flavors that closes with a lingering tobacco note. Elegant and fun.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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George Dickel Barrel Select
Distiller Score 91
A nose full of oak and cocoa, with a nice whiff of banana lurking in the shadows. Taste is sweet but not overpowering, nicely balanced by a warm rye spice. There's also oak and char, cherry, and vanilla. Dry with a nice, warm finish characterized by caramel and juicy tropical fruit. For the price, the very definition of an exceptional "go-to" whisky.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Clayton James Tennessee Whiskey
Distiller Score 87
A surprising bouquet of apples and pears greets the nose, along with caramel, apricot, and most surprisingly agave. The taste is rich, with maple syrup, vanilla, spice, and that curious mezcal-esque agave again. Water brings out the whiskey's floral notes as well as accentuating caramel, smoke, charcoal, and even rosewater. A truly unique and surprising Tennessee offering unlike anything else being done in the state.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack
Distiller Score 91
The nose, palate and finish can be summed up in one southern dessert: your grandmother's banana pudding. It's got it all, from the homemade vanilla pudding, to the Nilla Wafers and sliced bananas. There's even toasted meringue on the top coupled with a warm finish from the alcohol.
Reviewed by Rob Morton
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1792 Aged Twelve Years
Distiller Score 88
The 1792 12-year has many of the same flavor traits of it younger siblings, while expressing its maturity through a host of more subtle and precise characteristics. The familiar sweetness comes through in a rich and layered maple syrup note that is countered by drier, rye-influenced Turkish apricot aromas. This bourbon rolls across the palate with a round and creamy structure that, while not overly complex, is immensely enjoyable and well balanced.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Distiller Score 92
The nose is rich and enticing, with butterscotch, caramel, and peanut brittle. That nuttiness continues onto the palate, which also offers a surprising of red fruits, including apples, orchard fruits, plums, and grapes. The finish is lengthy, and showcases chocolate syrup, Tootsie Rolls, tannic oak, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Jim Beam Single Barrel Bourbon (95 Proof)
Distiller Score 90
On the nose this smells like, well, bourbon. Oak, char smoke, and vanilla. Those familiar with Beam will recognize the taste, albeit in a slightly burlier fashion. There's big char and oak, sweet caramel corn, even a hint of orange peel bitterness, all playing very well with one another. Black pepper and chocolate sneak in during the warm, lingering finish. This is an exceptionally enjoyable classic bourbon.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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George Dickel 13 Year Bottled in Bond Tennessee Whisky (Fall 2005)
Distiller Score 89
Dickel's BIB presents with an excellent balance between bold and elegant. Aromas of brandied fruit, baking spices, and crusty bread emerge at an even pace and the palate is rich with classic black pepper and caramel. A great first showing from Nicole Austin, which will certainly be embraced by bartenders.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Old Fitzgerald 12 Year
Distiller Score 88
Soft, sweet corn, rolled oats, buttery cinnamon sugar cookies, vanilla, and toffee dominate the nose with subtle aromas of oak in the background. Big flavors of gooey vanilla toffee, cinnamon toast, and maple syrup stand up front with mild hints of spice, wood, and red delicious apples rounding out the palate. The finish lingers with all the spice and oak that was missing in the first tastes with round and sweet mouth-coating memories of buttery toffee.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Weller 12 Year Bourbon
Distiller Score 93
The nose and flavor profile shows notes such as vanilla, orange peel, and chocolate all loaded up with warming baking spices. The proof helps to tighten up the whiskey and is less cloying as a result. Is pecan maple syrup a thing? Because if it is not, it should be. This whiskey seems to show this in spades. The whiskey warms in your throat and belly, so the only thing missing really is a fresh plate of flapjacks.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon
Distiller Score 92
The nose finds toffee, cinnamon, nutmeg, pit fruits and oak. The palate has a velvety mouth-feel along with flavors of raspberries served in a bowl with mild honey and cinnamon sugar. The finish is moderately long with more honey, cinnamon and vanilla coming through.
Reviewed by Rob Morton