Ascendant Spirits Breaker Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Reserve

Vanilla spice

The bottle indicates that it was distilled in Wyoming, so perhaps it's no longer an MGP juice? Get to thank my wonderful friend Nadine for sharing this from California. Vibrant, bright copper color. Really sticks on the glass with a few realtively slow-forming legs. Nose shows lots of wheat and oak. There's some heat, and sharp corners there when getting a little too far in. Notes of cigar boxes, whole grain bread, baking spices and a hint of ethanol. After some extensive breathing time, some caramel notes come through as well. Soft on the palate and sweet upfront, gives way to a pleasant warmth from the proof and the spices. Wheat influence makes its presence known again throughout... The barrel seems to contribute less char and lots more fresh cut oak than most. There's toasted coconut, pecan shells, a hint of leather and cream. The medium length finish leaves a few additional notes: milk chocolate and burnt sugar with a hint of vanilla woven in with the baking spices. My overall impression of this is that it's just not quite there yet: all of the right stuff is there, but it's a little wonky in the way it unfolds... In some ways it reminded me more of a beefy single malt than a bourbon. It's interesting and tasty, but lacks the symphony and synchronicity of really outstanding Bourbons.