Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project Bourbon

This was a sample from barrel #68 which was constructed from the wood of the bottom half of the tree that had 12 rings that then received a level 4 char before aging a high rye bourbon mash bill that entered the barrel at 125 proof and was stored in Rick K. The nose starts with butterscotch hard candy, powdered sugar dusted over sautéed cinnamon apples and mild sawdust then candied pecans and blonde roast espresso followed by candied orange peel and cherry cough syrup that transitions to a moderate spearmint, cloves and slightly worn catchers mitt with light ethanol burn. The taste is a thin mouthfeel starting with candy corn, powdered sugar, and sour caramel apple lollipop that quickly veers towards a moderate bitter spice that slowly fades to slightly burnt walnuts and cacao nibs followed by charred orange peel and watered down maraschino cherry juice that transitions to moderate spearmint, black pepper, cloves and slightly worn catchers mitt with medium ethanol burn. The finish is short with cacao nibs, slightly burnt walnuts, black cherries, sour apple jolly rancher, black pepper and moderate spearmint. The nose was promising with a creamy fruitiness with a mild sour astringency and moderate rye spices, but the palate failed to live up to the nose with a heavy oakiness and youthful astringency that doesn't come together well before finishing short with earthy and spicy rye flavors. I'm not sure why these were bottled at 45% ABV and not at cask strength to really showcase those flavors from the individual trees that sadly had to perish for this thin and average bourbon. I hear other barrel numbers turned out better, but I'm in no rush to find out. The single oak bottles appear to have sold for around $50 at MSRP, but you'd unfortunately have to pay around $400 for one of these 375ml bottles today which is just outrageous and either price isn't justified IMHO for what you get.

Barrel 108 Very interesting. Nose: Glazed Doughnuts, Vanilla, White Chocolate, Almonds, Pineapple Syrup, Brown Butter Cake, Honey, Bananas, Peaches, Grass, Cloves, Licorice, Starfish Palate: Vanilla, White Chocolate, Peaches, Marshmallows, Sunflowers, Lavender, Honey Finish: Vanilla, Marshmallows, Almonds, Toasted Oak, Leather, Maple Syrup, Coconuts

Great smooth sip

#72 bought at distillery. Lots of spice and oak. Tastes young. Too young or something. To me, it is not a very full flavored bourbon. Nice char finish. But medium finish that sort of fades into what reminds me of an over watered down bourbon like god awful Basil Hayden

Barrel 133 high rye