Maker's Mark Private Selection Bourbon

This is a Private Selection bottle found at the local Albertson’s labeled “Sugar and Spice”. Nose has French vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, toffee, sugar cookies and toasty oak notes. Palate is buttery and semisweet with vanilla, caramel, baking spices, oak and cookies, maybe Madeleines. Finish is medium length with light spices and sugary notes. Lives up to its name.

The wood staves weren't the greatest choice by the store owner,its a decent drink

Five Star Wine and Liquor President’s Day Pick Nose - Bright candied cherry. Like as if maraschino cherries sat in the barrel. Slight hint of leather very bright oakiness. Hints of vanilla. Little bit of toasted char. Palate - More leather, more oak, and an addition of walnuts. The walnut flavor is subtly sweet giving illusions to candied walnuts. The feel is very bright and light, careful not to overburden your mouth with so much denseness. Toasted sugar is also there, like eating just the top of a creme bru le. Minimals amount of caramel here and there. Finish - Finish is warm, near perfect for where a finish should be….in my opinion. It lasts for a moderate time and provides this comfortable warmth in you. On the way down it is complimented with more hints of leather, oak, and vanilla.

Brownie Butter 03061 Nose: Maker's 46. Standard caramel, hint of cherry. Slight ethanol as it's 110 proof. Touch of water brings out the wheat with a ground up oatmeal smell. Mouth: smooth on the front & middle of the palate and a surprising & overwhelming burn as it went down. Stark difference front to back. Little water does little to change this. Finish: Lot of oak/tannin linger. Overall I expected more sweetness from the stave profile with 6 staves of roasted French mendiant & 3 of the seared French cuvèe. Underwhelming for $62. Will be an expensive mixer

110 proof is kind a tough. It really overwhelmed the flavors from the staves. We had 03052. Over ice, it really mellows and some of sweeter flavors come through.