Heaven's Door 10 Year Decade Series (Release #1)

Nose: chalk, mint, honey, hay, bread pudding, pecan Taste: flowers, orange, oak, caramel, vanilla, cherry, raisin, fig, toffee, clove, some mildly dank herbal notes…bay leaf? Finish: lingering spices and smoky earthy sawdust I was expecting more from this one but it’s easy to drink with enough going on to make it interesting.

Typical bourbon. Nothing special. Guess we’re getting spoiled with the finishes from the boutique barrel bourbons.

This is one of those limited releases you can still likely find on the shelf at Total Wine or Bevmo which is shocking. I was very excited to try this until I got home, had a good look at the bottle and read that this Bourbon was considered "high rye". I'm not a rye lover and this sort of made me less excited to try this bourbon... but would it disappoint? The nose is classic bourbon with a zing. Caramel starts the show but is quickly joined by bittersweet baking spices and orange peel. Sweet, thick honey rounds out the end of the nose. The taste initially starts sweet with a warm and viscous mouth feel. Caramel slowly melts on your tongue and slightly bitter orange pith rides on the back of a bit of honey which bridges the taste with the finish. That finish ushers in the rye spice we were expecting from a high rye blend but also some spicy cinnamon. A bit of musty leather rounds out the finish with a powdery mouth feel, reminding you that this is a higher proof bourbon. More complex than Heaven's Door and certainly a significantly less sweet take on Bourbon, Heaven's Door Decade Series is definitely worth a taste. This bourbon is complex but somehow rounds out the taste by softening the transitions on the taste and finish themselves, not an easy feat. Go pick up a bottle while you still can.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes . Color: light-medium amber. Nose: Big almonds and other nuts. Palate: Oaky with little spice or nuts. Finish: Medium with very little heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed . Overall: 6.5/10 - Less complex and warm than other Heaven's Door offerings.

Hot, floral, typical offering of this style.

Slight weirdness in the finish, sort of metallic.