Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon

Immediate but brief oak and white pepper kick giving that bourbon feel while showcasing the high rye bill. Turns creamy which reminds me of orange cream soda mixed with peach cream soda. Peaches carry on but turn sweet like peach rings candy. Ends hot in the chest with a candy corn sweetness. Through all of this, there is a slight woody and sweet cinnamon undertone. Really delightful. Nice balance between sweet and heat such as the small batch just with a different flavor profile. Gotta give the edge to the small batch given the 35-40% discount. Batch 69

I had the base version of this, which is simply Smoke Wagon bourbon, and wasn’t impressed at all. In fact, I remember taking it on vacation to an AirBnB, and disliking it so much I left it there in the AirBnB. This uncut version is much better. But here’s the thing…it’s like crypto currency. Remember when bitcoin first came out? It was all the rage. Prices skyrocketed. But then there were countless others that followed in the same blockchain currency market. You had Elon-supported Dogecoin. Then Sol. Etheron. And dozens more. Then you had crazy NFTs of stupid looking apes that seemed like a kindergartner with an etch-a-sketch drew. Well, this here is like those crypto. When this first came out, I’m sure it was up there in novelty and the MGP mashbill you were getting, all at barrel proof. Now, there’s dozens more, at the same price. So, that novelty factor is out. Regardless, it’s still a good pour. Levels over their base. Nose is vanilla and caramel. On the palette, you get the oak, crème brûlée, and cinnamon nutmeg spice. I added some water, and the oak became more prominent, taking off a bit of the spice. Personally, I liked it with water. At about less than $65, this is a no-brainer. If it’s closer to $100, it’s a hard pass, and instead pick up Bookers. Thanks to @Scott_E for the pour! I was always meaning to try this, but hesitated purchasing a full bottle since I didn’t like their base. This is a whole other beast levels over their base product.

I think the claim to fame of this offering is that, once upon a time, it was one of the few 6-8y, 36% rye MGP mash bill products out there. To anyone who had never tasted such a thing (much more spicy - dill, pepper, cardamom and almost a cedar note rather than oak) it would likely change hearts and minds. Fast forward 5 years, after never being able to find the stuff, and the shelves are littered with the same offering under 20 different independent labels. I’m sure the owners would argue that theirs is different, but it’s not. Classic high-rye MGP bourbon. Probably worth $60-70 uncut and at full proof but not a dollar more. If you can’t find it (which I generally cannot) then any 36% rye MGP bourbon will. Personally I would take cask strength Belle Meade, which is richer and sweeter than this, any day. No longer unique, I struggle to see how this remains so sought after.

I heard so many things about SWUU that when the opportunity came, I had to take it. The nose is very appealing, not harsh and I didn't get too much ethanol. Instead, there was some licorice, but not grassy/minty, which I expected for a high Rye whiskey. The palate was just as pleasant, but I didn't get the wow effect that I was expecting. Overall is not bad, maybe my expectations were too high.