Idlewild Woodcutter's Whiskey

At just 80 proof, a light smooth summer bourbon.

I’m in CO on vacation, so I’m looking for CO bourbons to try. I bought this one on a whim, with no reviews and no information. Basically, I grabbed it because it was a cool bottle and from CO. Bottled in Winter Park from 5 different locally-sourced grains and Rocky Mountain water, and bottled at 80 proof. There’s no age statement. It does say it’s exposed to two other types of charred wood in addition to the charred oak barrel. Color: apple juice Nose: vanilla and oak, a little chocolate. A bit of ethanol. First sip, straight after pour: vanilla and baking spices, straight off. This is a low-proof bourbon, so it’s pretty smooth. Second sip, after sitting: Some peanuts and caramel. Oak. Sweet, but not cloyingly so. A little spice on the finish. Very well-balanced. With water: less spice, more sweet. A little pear. Some tobacco. I think I like it best with a little water- it draws out some new and interesting character. Finish: medium. I’m breathing hints of oak, a little smokiness, a little caramel. Not a lot of nuance, but a good dependable bourbon. I really like it. It’s easy to sip neat, especially if you don’t like the spicier bourbons. I actually prefer this to some of the more expensive bourbons in my collection.