Rabbit Hole Cavehill Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Nice Fathers Day present from my boys!

Nose: Immediate cereal grain - getting a brown ale vibe here, probably due to the higher malted barley content and wheat instead of rye in the mash bill. Bananas, with some distant strawberry. Brown sugar, but with an excess of molasses. Some barrel, though not much. Vanilla, nutmeg. Very rounded - though we're at 95 proof, there's nothing bright or abrasive about the nose. Very friendly. Giving it a second and then a swirl reveals a little cinnamon and black pepper, though very muddled. Think super cakey snickerdoodles without nearly enough cinnamon sugar on top. Palate: Super friendly - that honeyed cereal grain quality definitely translates into the palate, though now there's some brightness, too. Lemon oil and a touch of pine. Vanilla, white sugar, oak, though we're staying away from harsh barrel territory. Fruity - bananas, strawberries, maybe some stewed apples? Lots of mid palate, but not much lower or upper - super focused and cohesive, nothing is really jumping out. Again, very friendly. Mouthfeel is medium light. Finish: There's a pop of lemon oil, followed by mint. Oak and tannin show up. Bananas, cheerios, and cream. Warm baking spices with just a touch of pepper. We coast out on some anise, fruit, vanilla, oak. Medium length finish. Other notes: This stuff is different from my normal fare. The unusually high barley content, wheat instead of rye, and higher corn content all play together for something a little unfamiliar, friendly, though ultimately a little young. The flavors on display are cohesive and interesting, but are very mid-palate focused. As usual, I'd love to try this straight from the barrel, as I feel like a more challenging version of this would be right up my alley. I would definitely suggest this for those who are looking for an easy sipper - a "background whiskey" as some call it. Probably wouldn't seek out again for myself, but not mad about the buy, either.