Old Ezra 7 Year Barrel Strength Bourbon

Nose: dark cherry, brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, sweet cream, apricot Palette: cherry, brown sugar, anise, baking spices, cinnamon, black licorice Finish: sweet on tongue, good viscosity, finishes spicy and long with consistency and nice complexity

Liquid amber color. Sweet nose of caramel, oranges, apple pie, oak, leather, and vanilla. In contradistinction to the Knob Creek 12-Year Small Batch tasted immediately prior, and despite the much higher proof (117 vs KC12 100), Old Ezra comes across as balanced on the palate, and not nearly as hot. Whereas the KC12's palate was mostly heat, the Old Ezra has noticeable flavors of caramel and pipe tobacco preceding cinnamon red hots. There's a nice sweet vanilla finish with an orange tang. This bottle is about 2/3 gone; I've not had any in several months. While I'd made no explicit notes previously, I recalled liking, but not loving it. Tonight I'm loving it; this could also be a commentary on the KC12's bitterness and disjointedness that preceded it. As I recall, I picked up my two bottles in West Virginia a few years back. I'll definitely be looking to replenish my inventory when this stock gets low. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.