Henry McKenna Straight Bourbon

Not bad for a bottom-shelf bourbon (running around $13 in my area) that is marginally good enough to sip neat (for less $, Benchmark is better neat)... I tend to let mine sit for a little bit to decrease the acetone/alcohol nose. After sitting, it is sweet with the vanilla and toffee, but has a bit of mineral aftertaste (wet stone) on the finish. I ended up "vatting" a bottle of this with some 90 proof Ezra Brooks (that lacked sweetness) and the initial result turned the mineral taste to a soapy taste (yuck!). However, after a few weeks together, the soapiness was gone and the combo worked quite well.

Not a bad bottom shelf pour. I actually find this more palatable than Heaven Hills' Evan Williams Green or Black label. Not complex and heavy on the char but there are no objectionable notes here. For around $10 it's a decent pour.