Redemption High Rye Bourbon Single Barrel Select

Carmel and Vanilla up front. Hotter finish but still respectable.

Single Barrel Select from QFC in Redmond Washington. Edition: Woods Creek Reserve Barrel #20-113. Tasting neat in a NEAT glass: Nose is subtle, offering vanilla, red hots/wood spice, and caramel, with tiny hints of dark red fruits. Palate brings tons of wood spice and soft caramel with a Pop-rocks style tingle. Finish is delicious! Tons of vanilla and caramel intertwined with rye spice.

Despite declaring this “not a rebuy” the last time, on impulse decided to buy another pick. (What can I say? I was a little lit) This time from “Fox Cigar Bar” in Gilbert AZ. (This review will focus on the differences between this pick and my full review, so is mostly for my own notes and will be of limited use to anyone outside the Phoenix AZ area) Nose: where the last pick I had was straight up peanut butter, this one is less sweet and softer overall. Musty oak, and patchouli oil. Very different and not an improvement. Palate: The peanut goodness of the last bottle of this I had are nowhere to be found here. Some rye bread, baking spices, and wood. There is some nuttiness, but more like a bitter walnut. Very bright and sharp bourbon. All jagged edges, and nothing comes together well. Needs some sweetness for balance, and it’s just not there. Finish is more of the same and doesn’t really develop. Let this be lesson; let the buyer beware when it comes to store picks. Whomever picked this, let’s just say their palate doesn’t match mine. Serious misfire. Won’t be sad to see it go.

Kinda hot for me.