George Dickel 8 Year Bourbon

I'm not a Dickel fanboy, but I could be at this rate. I really loved the Bottled In Bond series, and I've enjoyed the 15 year. I like the Single Barrel Select for a sweeter take on life. This release has been in my sights since it hit the market. It took way too long for me to grab a bottle. Tasted neat from a NEAT tasting glass from a bottle that's half full and a little more than a week open. A swirl of this coppery liquid shows ample, slow-running legs. I expect a rich mouthfeel and that's exactly what's delivered. On the nose this is caramel and vanilla, oak and leather, baking spices and fermenting sweet grain. It's not a terribly complex nose, but it's got a number of distinct notes and none of them are bad. This is quite lovely. On the palate this drinks a little spicier than I expected. There's a really nice sweet introduction that reminds me of the new Jack Daniel's Bottled in Bond. There is some spice here - cayenne pepper and ginger, white pepper and drying oak tannins that makes this a punchy bourbon. The sweet elements of this are beautifully balanced by the dry, spicy wood. It's rich with heavy cream, a bit of funk, and very light on any minerality. I'd have a very hard time pegging this as a Dickel line extension. For the going price, this is better than Old Tub or Buffalo Trace (I rated both as a 2.75). Its competitive with Wild Turkey 101, & Elijah Craig and more. This is absolutely a solid bourbon punching above its proof and price class and living in a sub $25 neighborhood. I can't ask for more than that.

First impression, slightly sweet on the palate. Very pleasant. Unexpected. Very affordable. I always get 2 bottles.

On the nose I get some sweet cornbread first and foremost, also butterscotch, oak, and a faint nutty aroma like peanuts. Some mild ethanol was also present, but not overpowering at all. I also at first got some chemical type smell (that I likened to cocaine), but after I drank a little I didn't notice it anymore. Tastes very similar to how it smells. I get sweet cornbread with some peanuts, along with strong butterscotch, and some vanilla and a little oak. Finish is long and smooth with not much heat at all. Overall very sweet finish with some oak. Conclusion: I liked it. It went down easy. With the proof being on the bottom end of the spectrum (90 proof) it wasn't surprising that it went down so easy. The nutty characteristics make it somewhat unique in my experiences. It's somewhat one sided with it's sweetness, which is present throughout the nose, palate, and finish. Sweetness overpowers though and doesn't have the balance to drink a lot of it.

Sweet at the start. Good for an everyday sipper. I will purchase again.