Wilderness Trail Bottled in Bond Small Batch Bourbon (High Rye Bourbon)

I liked this spirit. The initial taste was a surprise to my mouth. In a word, I would call it “zesty” (even “minty”). The zest was quickly overcome by the sharper spices of black pepper, clove, cinnamon, and a hint of red hots. My mouth was warmed by the flavor profile, and the finish was warm, but relatively short-lived. However, I did notice a subtle, soft, lingering warmth, well after the taste had been completed. This is a BOURBON. I look forward to enjoying again in the near future. Upon adding two drops of water to the Glencarin glass, I found that the small amount of added water really amplified all of the tasting notes, such as the mint, the spices, and especially the taste of red hots.

HOT for the abv. It's just okay. Would never buy

Nose is very pleasant, hint of cinnamon, sweet. I can tell it’s a Rye, but the black pepper is the most pronounced. Batch No. 17E2204