Burnside Oregon Oaked Bourbon

Cinnamon, burnt sugar, and baking spices on the nose. Sweet on the tip of the tongue but finish is dry and long. Makes you think you will get a bright apple or candy flavor, but turns a little more dark, but in a good way.

Big burst of artificial sweetener, car keys, and nail polish with a hint of molasses. This tastes like a gimmicky cash grab, and I'm embarrassed to have fallen for it.

Really good

Light but complex. Slightly sweet and fruity but reasonably okay. Would drink again.

A lovely craft effort from Portland Oregon. Thanks @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample!  As mentioned in his review, if you like a whiskey that's sweet with a nice vanilla note, you'll like this Burnside.  And personally, I do like a sweet, vanilla whiskey. But sweet vanilla alone is hardly memorable.  Fortunately, this whiskey brings some distinction in the form of a slight oak dryness similar to the wood note I often find in Speyside whiskys.  This is only the second garryana-aged whiskey I've tasted, with the first being Westland Garryana.  With the Westland, I found the garryana wood note to be too sharp.  With the Burnside, the unique garryana taste is more mild, and is a strong complement to the whiskey.  This is not a complex dram, and it's not full of classic bourbon notes outside of the vanilla.  In fact, tasted blind, I might have pegged it as a wheat whiskey.  But ultimately, it's very pleasant, easy drinking and enjoyable.