Johnny Drum Private Stock Bourbon

4th time in this bottle. I shake it a few times (something I never do) and pour the glass angrily - why did I buy this? Why did I believe it was a wheated mash bill? What can I blend it with and not hate? Light copper color, legs are slow to start and then race down the glass once they break free. First whiff is still dusty and astringent. First sip, meh. Leaving it alone and coming back though something is changed. I get more of a burnt butterscotch and a bit of shoe leather. Sip again and it’s understandably becoming smoother as I numb my tongue but I get more of the burnt butterscotch and tannins, not overly drying, as well as spice... I would best describe it as “the taste and sensation of licking a 9v battery.” Am I going to go blind? Do I actually like this? Who led me to believe this is wheated? We’re they right? The finish says wheat, but in a Makers sort of way. Spicy, slightly sour and oily. I met my hero, AI GT Stag 2019 and found that sometimes your heroes aren’t what you expected. Don’t get me wrong, they’re awesome. Expectations, however, come with lots of false assumptions. I had many false assumptions on this one. Could this be part wheated, 15 year old juice that just fails to resemble much I have tasted (aside from batteries, or CS Makers - which I take issue with for its sharpness)? I just don’t know what to believe or who to trust, including my own taste buds. I will get to the bottom of this bottle... someday. For now, my guess is HH/Bernheim aged >12 years and the fruity character is gone and the wheat-congener based notes and tannins spring forth. Who knows.

Mmm, tastes good!