I was at a tailgate for this week’s UT football game (Hook ‘em!) and a buddy showed up with this. I’ve had this one before but it was years ago and I didn’t remember much about it.
I recently reviewed the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, and I’m a big fan of anything port finished. This dram was a pioneer of sorts in finishing bourbon rather than scotch or Irish.
The palate on this has classic bourbon notes. Vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, but the port finish shows up on the nose and the finish. You find all those berries and syrupy notes on the nose and the finish is velvety smooth just like on the Quinta Ruban. Great stuff!
I’ve noticed the price on this go up in the last few years. It used to be $40 a bottle and now I’m seeing it for $50. Not sure if that’s due to market demands or change in sourcing (last I heard it was MGP bourbon). Still good. Still worth standard retail, but I do remember when non-entry level bourbon was more affordable. These days I see prices creeping up not towards single malt levels despite the domestic advantage.
Either way, a solid dram. I’d happily put a bottle of this in my collection. Cheers, and go Longhorns!