St. Augustine Florida Straight Bourbon

For the young age, this is surprisingly dark in the glass, rivaling any BiB and many good 5-7 year age stated drams. Forms large, looping and irregular-spaced lace at rest. A swirl coats thinly and then quickly drops to thin tendrils that return to stasis over a minute's time. Looks nice in the glass. Spoiler alert - If you like this, you should probably stop reading now. Nose is, well, weird. There's vanilla and brown sugar, but it's like it's buried beneath rotting banana peel and fetid swamp water. And even at 44%, nosing too deep will remind you it's young and the alcohol burn is somehow more brash than a higher ABV drink that is older. Not also that the fetid rot lingers far longer than it should. Palate is much like the nose - weird. Raw sugar cane, imitation vanilla, musty wood, unsweetened coconut flakes, and then a flash of alcohol and a quick close that reminds me of getting splashed in the mouth while washing dishes. There is an odd musty, tangy funk, that runs from the nose through the close and taints any small thing that may be good, or even just okay, about this drink. I wish my Florida-based family would stop buying this as a gift for me because it is truly bad. I've had nothing from this distillery that is acceptable, much less good. But, my pain is your reward: If you value your palate you can use my discomfort to your advantage and never ever buy this at any price or in any place. Ever.

Not a fan at all.

Neat at The Polite Pig. Oak, brown sugar, hot alcohols.

A rich, Bourbon Whiskey by St. Augustine Distillery in Florida crafted with a mash bill of 60% Florida corn, 22% barley, and 18% Florida wheat, and aged a minimum of three years in American white oak barrels. It has an aromatic birth with notes of grains, wood, fruits, nuts, herbs & spices; while a full & rich life adds notes of cherry-vanilla ice cream, marshmallow, toffee & sage; that led to a slightly creamy & woody death of medium length with notes of oak, dark chocolate, cinnamon, Brazil nut, banana leaf, tobacco & leather. May 2024