Doc Swinson's Flagship Series Straight Bourbon Finished in Sherry Casks (Release No. 2)

Batch 4, $60 in WA. The cask shows on the tip of the tongue. The finish strikes me as a bit astringent if I let the back of the tongue breath for 15 seconds or more (not at all if I’m sipping with company and keeping my mouth closed). I’m more of a Woodinville and Bulleit person. This isn’t something I’ll buy again at $60.

Don't love the sherry cask flavor. All else is good.

Clean, spicy , crisp. Flavorful Dickel with a barrel finish....

Very spicy and sharp on the nose. Very sweet taste. Intense initial burn followed by a flat, smooth finish.

Batch 2, winter 2019. 12 year aged TN sourced whiskey (obviously Dickel). Sherry finished. 90 proof, one of 1436 bottles from the batch. 75% corn, 21% rye mashbill. I'm shocked they don't display the age statement proudly on the bottle - I had to research it on their website to find it. I'm struck with how obviously similar this is to Dickel BIB 13 year release, and clearly they should be. Nose is almost identical, trade a little of the peanut nose for some vanilla and sweet corn. Palate really has some great citrus going on, and is bright despite the heavy dose of corn and nutty-ness. End of the palate is met with the classic Dickel tart/mineral fuzz, but it is less brazen than other sourced juices out there. Finish is nothing too special, but lingers well with a drier vanilla closing it out. I am a sucker for citrus and sweet flavors, but this may be too sweet and 'high' for some. I'm surprised at the lack of oak throughout, given the age. Comparing side by side with Dickel BIB 13 year, it is very hard to call one 'better' than the other. They are different, and deliciously so. This is what finished, and sourced whiskey should do. Be clear in their details, and be different than the source juice. Hats off for that. I came in to this not knowing what to think of it. It is tasty, sure. Worth the price of admission? Ehhhh, that's really the only complaint here. A bottle apparently goes for over $55, when a Dickel BIB can be found for ~$40.