Blue Note Juke Joint Straight Bourbon (93 Proof)

I was traveling recently... and when I am out of state, I like to see what the shops outside of California have on their shelves. I'd always been intrigued by Blue Note Juke Joint, but it's nowhere to be found here. So when I saw it on the shelf in a Connecticut Spirit Shop, I grabbed that thing! Color: Medium golden amber Nose: Familiar Bourbon nose of oak, slight nasal passage alcohol burn (but nothing crazy). Hard to pin-point but, as I said, it's a familiar nose, not unlike many bottles I've had in the past. Palate: (Drank with an ice cube) Initially spicy-sweet. Again, this is a very familiar profile to me. The palate follows the nose to a "T". Going down, there's a bit more of a hug than I'd expect from a 93 proofer. But it fades quickly with subsequent sips. As the ice melts a bit, some bitter (tart?) cherry comes through. There's a nondescript sweetness gmto this juice. I got a huge corn hit as I reached the bottom of the second pour — like a "Fritos corn chips" corn. Interesting... Finish: I guess you'd consider it short. The spiciness is probably the most predominant characteristic. Oaky, spicy, corn. Slightly drying. My review may not sound all that glowing. But it's not for lack of enjoyment. It's a decent pour for the price point. One of those, "I'd definitely drink it again, but probably would not buy again" bottles. It's simply too basic to vie for a spot on my shelf when there are so many other "good" bottles out there that are easier for me to find, and perhaps even cheaper. "Good" at best; "Unremarkable" at worst. Added 5/17/24: Having some of this tonight, following a pour of E.H. Taylor Single Barrel... the differences are like night and day. This Blue Note can't really hold a candle to the E.H. Taylor. Two completely different animals. I'm noticing a specific funky "medicinal" flavor that I also got from the Heavens Door Ascension bourbon... and I panned that one here at Distiller! You don't really learn what it is you like and what it is you can live without until you try them side by side... and I'm getting to the point where I'm tired of trying different bottles only to realize that there's really no need for me to stray from the ones that I know are excellent.