J.W. Dant Bourbon Bottled in Bond

I love the appearance of this bottle - no frills whatsoever. The BiB statement and 100 proof for around $15/liter... how bad could it be? The short answer is not that bad, but there are better options. This pours a light golden with quick legs. The nose is just funky and a bit astringent. There is imitation vanilla, play dough, walnuts. The oak component is what I think lends an almost acetone-like scent. The palate is fairly thin and lands with mild heat, creme brûlée, dusty attic tones and a black walnut bitterness rather than clean oak. The finish is medium and the funky black walnut bitterness hangs in the sinuses. There are pleasant parts but the finish (Daniel Kannaman's peak-end effect) sort of sinks this one. Fun to try, not one I'll purchase a bottle of.

Exceptional for the price. Nice little sipper with a sweetness up front and some fire around back.