George Dickel 13 Year Bottled in Bond Tennessee Whisky (Fall 2005)

Smooth! Take this BIB neat. My first sip I did taste the charcoal but it gave way to a deep leather and chocolate finish. It has a bold flavor but does not have an alcohol burn at all, did I mention smooth.

This is spicy wonderfulness. Grab it when you find it.

Maybe one of the best bourbons i have ever had, starts off with some pepper and moves into leather and caramel, it does not have the typical burn of a 100 proofer. I anticipate this stuff being as hard to find as some of the Buffalo Trace products. Went back to get another bottle to make sure I had another in case this stuff is more limited of a distribution.

I'm usually not a huge fan of Tennessee whiskey, but man, this was a good buy. Nose: The charcoal mellowing works extremely well with the proof and aging here. I get a light of sweetness with some undertones of smoke. Slightly toasted marshmallow, brown sugar, banana, vanilla...It's like a smoked banana's foster that isn't too heavy on the banana. Taste: The proof hits hard. There are some spikes with alcohol burn in the beginning and end, but it doesn't overwhelm the sweet flavors (again, vanilla and banana) along with some of the woodiness that comes with the aging. A little char, as well along with some aromatic tobacco, cherry and apple. Finish: Sticks with you. Gives you a nice burn, but never evolves into anything unpleasant. Oily enough to coat and keep giving you some fruity flavors (cherry for me) even 10 seconds after a sip. Value: At $35, this is a definite buy for me. It's probably one I'll continue to keep in my collection as long as it stays sub $40. You get a good proof and flavor profile. Overall: 90. You get an accessible, daily drinker with enough oomph to hold up in cocktails. This was truly a pleasant surprise, and a damn good value for me.

Charcoal dominates both the nose and palate. Wouldn’t buy again.