LeeEvolved
Reviewed
September 8, 2017 (edited February 4, 2018)
I found this bourbon at a local steakhouse while on my annual, fall golf trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. When the waitress told me I could get a double pour for $11 I tossed my keys to one of my non-drinking, hacker friends and commenced to getting downright toasted. "Would you like to chase it with something?", she added. I don't mind if I do- Beam & Coke, por favor...
Of course, I didn't jot down notes because my friends would never let me live that down so this review is based mostly from hazy memory. If I add notes like cow's blood or charred meat those had to be leftover from the 18oz porterhouse and not the whiskey.
It was a very dark amber in the highball glass (so not proper there in South Carolina), but it made some serious long legs that squirmed quickly back down into the glass. The 120 proof will make sure of that every time. There was a strong hit of charred oak and cinnamon wafting up along with the heavy burn associated with such a monster ABV.
The palate was heavy on the vanilla and typical burnt oak barrel that slowly sizzled my taste buds from front to back after only a few seconds. The first big sip caught me off guard and I gasped for breath before I remembered that I need to take better care when exhaling from such a strong whiskey. The ensuing sips seemed calmer after I exercised more restraint, especially on the breath out. I was able to contain the pepper and cinnamon flavors and really tell how surprisingly smooth it was. I even picked up on some sweet honey/vanilla this time.
The finish is just as you'd expect from such a beast of a bourbon. Burn, burn and then a little burn to round things out. The only way to describe the length is to say that I still tasted it even after a healthy slug from the Beam & Coke. It hangs with you. The oak spice kept things dry and hot, but it's smooth enough to not be offensive.
Overall, a wonderful bourbon that's brash enough to let everyone around know you're drinking a powerful whiskey, but just smooth enough to let you maintain some civility and not make those same people think you just drank battery acid. I believe this bottle runs $45 here in Virginia and that's not bad for what you get. Solid 4 stars. Cheers.