T.W. Samuels Bottled in Bond Bourbon

I Live in KY and am fortunate to be able to get Heaven Hill's bottom shelf bottled in bond products. A few years ago white label HH 6 year was readily available and superior to many mid shelf 30-40 bottles. But the secret got out. A brand ambassador once told me that it was HH's gift to KY. Samuels is still available but only in 1.75 handles at big volume stores. It's not HH white 100 but it's really good. There's good oak on the nose with lots of sweet popcorn and vanilla in the initial taste. It evolves in the glass but only slightly toward a touch of caramel. It's got all you want from a mid priced bourbon except for the price. It makes a killer Manhattan or old fashioned. I'm not going to rave as I don't want the secret out.

Since I’ve been on a Heaven Hill bottom shelfer kick lately, I thought I’d finally go for this one. It only comes in a plastic 1.75L bottle, built in pourer and all. All of that for $22 doesn’t really scream quality, but Heaven Hill has proven me wrong before. Let’s see. The nose is sweet with vanilla custard, light gingerbread, plumb, barrel char ash, and sweet corn. The palate is sweet and a little oily with gingerbread, barrel char, sweet corn, slight cardboard/nuttiness and a hint of rye. The finish is medium in length with lingering sweet corn, vanilla and very light gingerbread. After a while there is a remnant of barrel char. Heaven Hill comes through again! Man, these limited distribution/KY only releases are all very good (T.W. Samuels, J.T.S. Brown and J.W. Dant, all BiB of course). They spend $0 on marketing for these products, so it’s up to us to discover them. Do not let the giant plastic bottle fool you. It is quality bourbon, especially for the price!

Pretty good on the rocks

T.W. Samuels Bottled In Bond bourbon is a Heaven Hill product that is only available in the Kentucky area. It is also only available in a 1.75 plastic bottle and costs about 24 bucks. Yeah I know, I don’t like plastic bottles either but don’t let that scare you off on this one. Years ago Heaven Hill also bottled it in a 750 glass bottle but discontinued it. Be careful if you see this one at your liquor store as there is an 80 proof version out there and it looks just like this one except it does not say Bottled In Bond 100 proof. The color is brown to dark red. The legs are thin and start fast but then slow down and sheets of alcohol just stick to the glass. The nose is vanilla, caramel, buttered popcorn, and oak. The taste is vanilla, brown sugar, peanuts, caramel, and oak. It has a medium finish with the vanilla and caramel really coming through. It feel very creamy on your tongue. There is also some nuttiness, sweetness and oak that linger. This one does not drink like a 100 proof whiskey.