Virgin Bourbon 7 Year 101

Good to make old fashioneds with

Found the NAS at the state ABC store. Liked it a lot, especially for the price. Enjoyed nest and with a ice cube. Vanilla, some sweet spice. Hope Virginia keeps it or brings in the 7yo.

Picked up a couple of $17 fifths of no age statement on a recent trip to Alabama. I much prefer the previously available 7 year old to the current NAS. Like, muchly. The NAS finishes with a pronounced iron-rust note that is unpleasant. The 7 was decent neat plus a few drops of water, but the NAS begs for a couple of drips of orange bitters at a minimum, better with a spoon or two of Curaçao or Amaro Montenegro instead, and it’s even happier in a Revolver cocktail. A Boulevardier’s sweet vermouth & Campari are a yet more effective cover-up. I detect a continuum. Still, all this seems more like “Porky, meet lipstick” rather than making the most delicious drink that one can; I prefer a Revolver made with the traditional Bulleit orange label to the NAS. Bourbon, to me, is most enjoyable neat w/ 3 or 4 drops of distilled water. The NAS is not that one; it is handy - and cheap - for some cocktails (bourbon & Coca-Cola?) I suppose. Too bad the 7 is done. I keep the last half-bottle I have of that specifically for “A or B?” tastings against the NAS for friends, like I do with a few previously delicious but now not so much mass-market handmade cigars. Entropy, I guess.

Solid pour for the price. Weird taste at first but finishes smooth. It’s a good daily drinker

I get a taste of peanut butter

Char. Orange citrus. Oak. Light sweetness up front. Vanilla and black pepper in the finish. This is extremely well balanced and an absolute bargain for the price. Too bad they are removing the age statement.

Vanilla sweet