Fighting Cock Kentucky Straight Bourbon (NAS)

Good for price, definitely a strong spice to it.

After discovering some gold on the bottom shelf from a few other Heaven Hill offerings, I thought I’d make it around to this one. I have yet to be disappointed by Heaven Hill on bottom their shelfers, especially 100 proofers and above. The nose is sweet and slightly floral with vanilla custard, sweet corn, pear juice, light raisins, toasted almonds, and a hint of freshly baked ginger snap cookies. There is a tinge of alcohol vapors that stings the nostrils every now and then if I get a little too close to the glass when nosing, but it’s not too distracting. The palate is medium bodied and slightly creamy. It is a little more sweet than bitter, though both are present. There is sweet corn, pear, vanilla, black pepper, slight nuttiness, a floral note that jumps out and a little ethanol, but it’s not too much. The finish is medium long, slightly bitter with lingering vanilla and corn and a slight nutty barrel char note. Once again, I’m pleasantly surprised by Heaven Hill. I’ve often been turned off by its unattractive label and bottom shelf price. But I’ve again been reminded of how many very decent and great bourbons there are down there. I’ll say this one probably has the most present alcohol notes of the Heaven Hill products I’ve had around this proof, but it’s still good.

A pretty nice bourbon nose once you get past the alcohol. Then you get smacked in the mouth by an oak 2x4, after the oak dissipates sweet vanilla and spice shows up. A nice long hot finish with oak and a little spice. A few drops of water tames a little of the oak. The most oaky whiskey of any kind that I’ve ever had, not in a bad way though. My favorite daily drinker. Very nice and a great value.

Gets better the more you have. Its got great flavor for the price but not a great whiskey. For $18 I’ll buy again to share