BrenBarn
Reviewed
February 1, 2022 (edited September 7, 2022)
This falls into the category of "bourbons that are more expensive than Evan Williams bonded but not clearly better than it". That is not surprising because most bourbons I have tried fall into that category. This one holds up better than most because it is not really worse than Evan Williams bonded and only costs $2 more, which is perhaps a justifiable premium for the added feature of being a wheated bourbon.
The aroma is very faint: gentle honey and vanilla with just a hint of cinnamon. It's nice but would be nicer if it were more powerful. The flavor comes with more honey and vanilla along with grainy flavors, like toast with honey, and a bit of lemon. The finish has more spice than was apparent earlier and it lingers for quite a while.
It's certainly pleasant. The gentle sweetness makes it a relaxing, "low-maintenance" drink that doesn't rock the boat. Unfortunately that's also the downside, as it winds up feeling a bit light even at 100 proof.
I bought this because I tried Maker's Mark Cask Strength and wanted to check out more budget-friendly wheated bourbons, and this was one of the cheapest I found. I don't think I'll buy it again, but it's a good value nonetheless. At $17 a bottle it's definitely worth a look if you want to try a wheater. On the other hand, if you're not specifically looking for a wheater, Evan Williams bonded is only $15. . .
17.0
USD
per
Bottle