Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon

NOSE - creme brûlée, graham cracker , candy sweet PALATE - candy corn, malt, spicy wood, cinnamon FINISH - vanilla, clove, creamy

great bourbon . great distiller

Tried this with my friends the other night at our monthy tasting. Thought I would share my notes on it: Nose: Vannilla and Carmel are dominant, Oak, Light Varnish, Garden Weeds (rye influence), Cardboard Glue, Light Mint. Taste: GRAPE LOLLIPOP! Carmel, Oak. Mouthfeel is smooth, creamy, and powerful flavor. Finish: Medium in length. Holy cow! That grape lollipop dominates the flavor. It is also reminds me strongly of a few bottle of Eagle Rare that I have had. This dances with being on the sickely sweet side. It is a well distilled whiskey. You can tell that it has great balance outside of the grape note. I would classify this as an after dinner dessert whiskey, or something to sip on at a county fair. If the grape could be reigned in some, this would reach new heights of excellence. It is worthwhile to note that this is a single barrel bottle. So, the grape characterisitic could differ greatly depending on the barrel that your bottle came from.