Smoke Wagon Straight Bourbon (2022 Halloween Edition)

So another young MGP high rye bourbon tonight. This is distilled in Indiana and aged and bottled in Las Vegas. Label says barrels selected from the top two floors of the warehouse (not rickhouse) to create a bourbon that has flavor which is smooth and rich beyond its years. Medium approaching dark honey in color with quick forming legs. This one has a rich complex nose of buttered caramel corn over a fruity background. It's nicely sweet with touches of honey and brown sugar. It's 92.5 proof but only hint of alcohol on the nose. Palate says it's bourbon but only a basic miss mash of flavor. It's not bad by any means buts its hard to pull anything out. The mouth feel is thin and the finish almost non existent. It drinks more like an 80 proof product. Earlier this year I tried three different renditions of the uncut, unfiltered. Those were world class. This one relates to those on the nose and I do love to nose my bourbon. This falls short on the palate and leads me to believe that H&C Distilling needs to stay in the 100+ proof range with their products.

First taste neat. Dark color, spice nose. Spiced fruit, vanilla. Smooth with a little bite. Great sipping. Second taste with a small ice ball. The ice mellows it out and brings out the vanilla and the caramel. I enjoy this bourbon both ways. Depends on your mood. And at the price point it’s great.