George Dickel 11 Year Bottled in Bond Tennessee Whisky (Fall 2008)

Blind tasting - 1.0 oz neat in a Glencairn George Dickel 11Y Bottled-in-Bond (Fall 2008) (50%, open 1.5 weeks, $35.95 in NC) George Dickel 9Y Hand Selected Barrel - bottle no. 114 bottled in 2018 for Cole Swindell & Carolina Country Music Festival (51.5%, open 1 month, $51.99 in SC) Color: Identical amber brown hue Nose: A - Strong spice up front with nutmeg and cinnamon, medium ethanol with big whiff, light oak sweetness compared to whiskey B, grainy corn dust note 7.5/10 B - Smells older than whiskey A, more bold oak influence with hefty dose of sweet baking spices, lighter ethanol notes, corn dust note is muted 7.5/10 Palate: A - Bright corn and hint of citrus, tannic, stronger oak and ethanol compared to whiskey B, spices more muted compared to whiskey B 6.5/10 B - Sweet oak spice, medium tannic oak, bready dessert a la bread pudding 8/10 Finish A - Medium finish, ethanol and tannins less prominent than on tongue, sweet spicy oak builds, kind of opposite to whiskey B 7.5/10 B - Medium to long finish, ethanol and oak tannin build towards the end, baking spices and sweetness more muted than on tongue 7/10 Drinkability: A - 8/10 B - 8.5/10 Total score: A = 29.5/40 B = 31/40 A = George Dickel 11Y Bottled-in-Bond (Fall 2008) B = George Dickel 9Y Hand Selected Barrel I picked up a Hand Selected Barrel for the first time on a trip to SC, a bottle I've never seen in NC. There were at least 6 of these bottles from 2018 covered in dust, clearly people don't know what they're missing. I instantly loved this 9Y barrel and thought it was significantly better than the BiB 13Y released in 2019. When shopping with my brother last week they just opened a case of the new BiB 11Y so I grabbed it. The 11Y was a clear upgrade from the 13Y. I think with both the 9Y and 11Y, the younger whiskey improves the overall flavor. The edges are more rounded, while the 13Y was a bit too oaky and tannic but still enjoyable nonetheless. Both my brother and I did this blind, and we both liked the 9Y Hand Selected Barrel slightly more. Although it was extremely difficult to tell the difference. Honestly, the only thing I liked more with the 9Y were the sweeter notes on the nose and palate. In conclusion, these are both excellent Tennessee whiskeys and I think George Dickel knocked it out of the park with their 2nd annual BiB release. Additionally, it is commonly $10-15 cheaper than the Hand Selected Barrel, so you are definitely getting a great deal. Highly recommend both bottles.

Sweet and molasses on nose with some alcohol. Palette has lots of heat and tingly on tongue. Not too much heat going down. Lots of heat and barrel notes lingering on palette.

Smooth! Very easy drinking. Has the Dickel nuttiness.

Pecan, surprisingly spicy , toasted Carmel, slight hint of vanilla. A very good whiskey, an EXCEPTIONAL value.