Lux Row Double Barrel Bourbon 12 Year

Overpriced jet fuel, burn but not lots of character

Nose- very oaky and a bit of acetone, finger nail polish. Once you get past that you are hit by some nice vanilla Palate- It is without water a bit too hot on entry. A few drops tempers that though. This is also a spice chest with plenty of clove and dominant all-spice.....perhaps too much spice? The rye forwardness is showcased in what has to be a high rye mashbill as I also detect a hint of dill. Vanilla is the prevalent tasting note though after all of the spice is through overwhelming your taste buds. Finish: long and lingering. It is warming but a bit dry. I get a woody bitterness toward the end of the sip followed by some medicinal cherry cough drop that to be honest, I might have enjoyed more of earlier on. Overall- I so wanted to fall in love with this one. My expectations were high. The thought of a 12 yr old, high rye, limited release that was perhaps kin to Old Ezra 7 Barrel Proof had me squirming in my seat to try. Alas, to my disappointment- Too much oak, too much spice, too much ethanol. The balance was just off. Where OE7 balances the spiciness with some sweeter brown sugar and caramel notes, this moves toward being bitter, slightly woody, overwhelming spicy with dashes of vanilla thrown in. I think it crosses the line into being overoaked. Glad I got a sample from a friend because to me, this one is not a bottle buy at the premium price.

Very balanced nose, not too sweet, but not overwhelmingly spicy. Turns pretty vegetal and earthy as it opens up. The palate’s got a thick mouthfeel and a deep, full-bodied spice that hugs you tight. Medium-short finish that’s surprisingly sweet, with a faint banana note.