Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve Bourbon

Batch 20-03, 112 proof Vanilla bean, orange marmalade, chipotle peppers, healthy dose of smoke and oak Very smooth for the proof, balanced from sip to finish, moderate burn A great high proof option in this price bracket; relatively bold and complex despite its smoothness

Batch # 20-04 Bottle 1465 111.6 proof. Decently strong and complex aroma of caramel, baking spices, spruce, tangerine, cherry, oak, and a hint of charcoal. Some ethanol right after the pour but disappears in a few minutes and then you can get right in there an huff which is nice for 111 proof. Palate is just a swirl of complexity; vanilla ice cream, caramel, praline, fruit cocktail, nutmeg, ginger, clove, and allspice. Flavors are supremely well integrated and balanced, with no one flavor dominating. Finish of chocolate, cinnamon, and charred oak that seemingly goes on forever. Man, is this a good finish. Mouthfeel oily and full, coates the entire palate. A little minty heat builds super slowly after multiple sips almost like the building heat of a chili pepper. This is a delicious and superior bourbon. I paid an admittedly high price of (gulp) $80 at the only place I could find it, and it’s still hard to say that it’s not worth it. Apparently this goes for as low as $56 at Total Wine and if I ever found it for that I’d clear the fucking shelf. A heavy hitter. If you can find a bottle, grab it. You won’t be disappointed.

Among my all-time favorites

My opinion, but this is the Belle Meade you should be looking for.