Bluff Springs Kentucky Straight Bourbon

This is a good bourbon, but it seems to be missing depth of character and tasting notes. Just fine for sipping at home but maybe not the best choice to impress your friends.

Nose is smokey oak sawdust with bit of leather. Starts with a sweet burst with a hint of carmel and vanilla and a bite of rye spice. Holding it at mid palete the rye spice explodes into a strong heat that goes down hotter than expected for the 90 proof rating. Would not call it smooth but it does have a certain oily feel. Think it could use a bit more aging to smooth it out and tame the rye. If you like rye forward for a pretty good price you will probably find this a nice sipper. For me I am not a rye fan and find this one to be pretty much one noted and lacking complexity and aging. Probably will not buy again.

A fifth of this juice cost me $24.99 at the Uptown Total Wine store here in Albuquerque. It's 90 proof, and there's no age statement (though as a straight whisky it has to be at least four years old to do without). In the glass the color is amber. NOSE: Something smoky, clover honey, something floral, creamed corn, corn pops, vanilla, and possibly grapes MOUTHFEEL: Silky TASTE: Honey, brown sugar, black pepper, vanilla, cinnamon FINISH: Spice, oak, a tinge of honey - very long SUMMARY: I bought this bottle because two Total Wine employees independently recommended it as being similar to Buffalo Trace, which is allocated here (I've only seen it on the shelf once). It's been a long time since I had my bottle of Buffalo Trace, but my memory tells me it's a valid comparison. I wish this were a higher proof whisky (I've been drinking higher proof whiskies lately, and I've learned that I like 'em), and that there was more information about the whisky (I can find anything definite about it except the mash bill, and even that I've only located in two places, one of them here). But it is a good, sweet bourbon, yet with enough oak to please me, especially in the finish. I'll definitely buy it again. RATING: Fine