Belle Meade Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Year

This review is for the single barrel 10-year sold by DC's Potomac Wines (currently on sale for $58, a stunning value). It's bottled at 52.3% ABV, relatively low for a barrel proof bourbon. Just about everything you want in a bourbon nose is here. It resembles Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, which I worship, just with the intensity dialed down from 11 to 9.5 or so. Hanging in the balance are oak, vanilla, toasted coconut, barrel char, cherry, coffee ice cream, and some cologne-esque musk or oiled leather. There is a lot intermingling here, but it's like the perfect party, where everyone's different personalities mesh together. The palate progression is interesting. This bourbon enters stealthily, if that makes any sense. The first sensations are of a delicate sweetness, with no burn, but then there is a warming rush of oak, tannins, toffee, honey, vanilla, and corn. It is a rich swirl of flavors, which tails off into a stimulating combination of cinnamon, pepper, and baking spices. It has a creamy rather than oily texture, and it is so gentle I would have pegged its ABV in the 45% range rather than the 52%+ it actually is. Belle Meade ends with a lovely coda of oak, butterscotch, rye bread, and cinnamon. This bourbon is for someone who enjoys a lengthy, languorous finish, but one that doesn't light the tongue, throat, and esophagus on fire. One of the best bourbons I've had -- the only criticism I have is that it hews pretty close to the traditional/classic bourbon flavor profile, and there aren't many surprising notes along the way. This is a high-rye bourbon, so imagine Four Roses Single Barrel but with more oak and vanilla flavors and a little extra oomph. I'd put this at a 96-97 on the Distiller score scale.