Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

Full body. Spice, sweet, and a pretty warm (almost hot) finish. It’s strong.

Burnished, deep copper color. Initially very effusive with loads of imitation vanilla aromas, a thin mid-palate, and an oddly spicy finish. However, after a spell, this turns into quite a pleasant, easy-to-drink pour. The vanilla notes become more muted and integrated -- playing friendly with more maple candy, birch beer syrup, cherry waffles, sesame oil, spearmint, and wintergreen aromas. On the palate it has some heft and texture, bringing a pleasant grainy brown sugar sweetness that dries wonderfully into a finish of anise seed, pencil shavings, and cinnamon. At $22 a liter, it is almost exactly the same price as Evan Williams BiB in Oregon. However, it is significantly less nutty, peanut butter fudge. And has much brighter and more focused flavors and aromas. EW BiB has been my budget bourbon for so long, maybe it's time to start mixing it up. Impressive at this price point.

Sweet, vanilla, and a little spice. Great nose and excellent long finish.