130.2 proof (so they say), bottled 1.11.21 from barrel 21-00208. This grew up on R-14 Rick N9. Tawny, bold and beautiful. The aroma of warm bananas foster and caramel syrup over cinnamon and vanilla ice cream. Rich. Warm. Hints of maple bacon, oak, caraway, orange zest. The ethanol is well hidden. There is an absolute BANG on entry and my tongue is left to recover and sort it out. At first there is a grape and wood element, almost like Armagnac. Wasn’t expecting that. Second sip is full of spice - cinnamon, clove, anise that all fade into that wood and grape element and a long, warm drip down into the chest. Bits of tannic leather come along with subsequent sips. Brown butter. Cola? Is that my amygdala just randomly interjecting sensations from days of old? At $60 this holds its own against an EHT barrel proof. I would venture to say this sits above Bookers territory as far as complexity goes but lacks the thick vanilla, brown sugar and nuts that Beam brings to the palate. It does fall behind a good Stagg Jr or EXBP with regard to absolute, unfolding, bonkers complexity and finish. This pour is a TN cigar to a KY pipe tobacco. It’s a bit brash but flavorful. For a mid-shelf find, on sale, this is hard to compete with. I say this as ECBP is now topping $80, Bookers is becoming harder to come by for any less than that and EHT Barrel proof only exists on the secondary and devoted whiskey bar displays. If I mix this with Bookers, will I be cursed? Maybe a dash of well-aged MGP thrown in? I needn’t go there but such a blend... available and perhaps unstoppable. Further research is needed...