Henry McKenna 10 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon

This isn't a bad bourbon. For the proof, the price is nice. It smells nice (and caramelly!) and tastes ok. Flavor doesn't last long; a little caramel and a little pepper. For the professional ratings, I am wondering if I am just not getting good barrels. Having now tried 3 bottles, I can't go higher than 2.5 stars. I'll keep buying (see the first 2 points above), but this isn't something for which I can say the complex taste is the pleasure provider for me...

I've been curious about this one for awhile. I finally decided to pull the trigger and buy a bottle. First off, the specs: 10 year old, single barrel, BIB, 100 proof, under $30. I wasn't sure what to expect. It was much better than I expected. I was a bit worried that at that proof and that price point this would be overly harsh. It was anything but. The taste seemed pretty complex. It had some vanilla and sweetness up front, followed by some spice, and then a bit of the alcohol at the end. At 100 proof, you can feel it a bit later. Definitely one to be a bit careful with if you're going to have a few. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with it.

Citrus and butterscotch on the nose. Maybe some burnt caramel and flowers. Stings the nose. Taste seems different than the smell. Very flat on the palate initially, then cinnamon and toffee. Finishes abruptly with some herb and bitter notes. Warmth lingers longer than the flavor. Very silky mouthfeel. I found myself wishing it were a bit sweeter, but that's exactly what happened when I added a limestone water ice cube. Good value. 2/15/17

​ The whiskey is a gorgeous dark amber color in the glass, almost reminiscent of maple syrup. Swirling leaves a nice thick coating on the glass with long lasting legs. The nose on this bad boy is oak, oak, and more oak! There is also some cinnamon spice and a fairly strong alcohol burn. After about 15-20 minutes in the glass the alcohol burn fades somewhat revealing some caramel notes. The taste fills the mouth with an amazing toasted oak flavor. There is also some pepper and hints of burnt sugar sweetness. A bit of water tames the rough edge of the alcohol but doesn't really change the profile much. The finish is fairly long and dry with some charred oak notes. This is a fantastic bourbon, especially when you consider the price. I paid $33 for this but I'm sure it can be had in some cases for under $30. 3.5. Cheers!

Really well rounded bourbon. Sweet, spicy, hints of vanilla and smoke. Full bodied with a pleasant burn. 4/5

Pepper, honey, oak. Finishes with some heat