Blood Oath Bourbon Pact No. 7

Orangey: nose Almost scotch like in terms of wood like spice.

This is my third vintage of Blood Oath. The previous pacts each had their own distinct style and this one looks to as well with the unique barrel finishing. Let's dive in... Nose is really sweet here. I am getting hints of vanilla and sugar like sweet vanilla icing. Not getting any ethanol at all with this one. First sip definitely plays to something different. Bourbon purists probably should stop here and find something else to sip on. For the rest of us there is a bit to decode. There is an almost immediate effervescent tingle with cinnamon notes. The dessert wine finish almost has shifted this to a soft fruit brandy experience. I am getting some sweet notes here (apricot or peach maybe). The finish brings more cinnamon with some light heat trailing off to a faint sweet finish. This one is really a very nice dram for something different. I can see why some would cast shade on it as a tater bottle, but that doesn't really do it justice. I genuinely enjoy the variety finishes can bring to whiskies. This one delivers a high quality enjoable sipper. If you like finished barrels this is a must try. If you think they are a gimmick move along, nothing to see here.

Nose: sweet chocolate covered cherries followed by a faint ethanol tingle, very sweet smelling Palate: this is almost overwhelmingly fruity from the cask but really well done. Plenty of cherry (my favorite fruit to find in a bourbon) but also has some overripe nectarine sweetness to it. The high rye was definitely necessary to balance out the sweetness, getting some tasty rye bread in the background. Finish: the fruity finish is much brighter than the palate with mixed berries finishing it off, and the sweetness lasting even longer than the rye spice. @tbran19 was generous enough to crack this bottle with me to celebrate closing on his new house! It paired really well with a Gurkha cellar reserve 15.

Very enjoyable. I had lots of fun. Complex but smooth. Love the aroma and all the tiny appetizer bites.. 💕 💕 💕

Exceptional, and really hard to find. Was worth the search.