Blind pour #2. Dark amber with thick, slow legs. Oak for days with gobs of spice. Pepper, cinnamon, chili powder. A bit of leather. Dark brown sugar. Dark tobacco. Maybe a touch of cedar. Overripe banana esters. Library books and maybe a bit of sesame oil. Slight varnish. Super interesting. If I had to guess this is 13-14 years old and north of 110 proof, high rye mash bill. Profile at first made me think Elijah Craig but there is more of a Barton or possibly Brown Forman edge the longer it sits. Thick with wood, spice and brown sugar. Like licking a cedar plank crusted with burnt brown sugar. There are many more wood and earthy notes than sweet or fruity notes here. This bourbon could masquerade as a brooding bounty hunter in the dimly lit corner of a bar, his face illuminated only by the draw from his hand rolled cigarette. The finish is dry with leather, dark tobacco… and on the back of the tongue Beam peanut. Is this a Little Book? Could this be Beam with a twist? I believe it is very, very possible… Reveal: Bardstown The Prisoner #1 So my hunches are once again entirely wrong. Tennessee = Dickel around 98% of the time it would seem. I will say this is unlike their highly acclaimed BiB which had way more fruit to it that plays much more of a supporting role here. Honestly the wine finish was missed on me. Oak and spice were 2/3 or more of what came across but could be what is eaten, barometric pressure, etc. Overall this was still an interesting, enjoyable and flavor-packed pour. It certainly drinks like something I’d expect to pay $100 for. Despite being the opposite of what I would expect this is something I would likely pay MSRP for if I wanted something that drank like a well aged and earthy bourbon. Another shout out to @pkingmartin and for the excellent find and for generously sharing this with me! Definitely an educational dram if nothing else.