To change things up, @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington sent me a series of samples that have either shapes or some code on them to prevent me from being able to know what they are until after I’ve tasted them. Will I mistake a rye for bourbon or completely miss a finish, who knows, but I’m dying to find out so let’s continue this blind challenge with the vial that has a pentagon on it. The nose starts with rich decadent chocolate turtles with candied pecans followed by fruits of orange zest and apple fritters along with vanilla creme brûlée that transitions to spearmint, cloves, vintage leather and polished mahogany with high ethanol burn. The taste is a viscous mouthfeel starting with fruits of mandarin oranges, candied cherries and apple fritters along with a light floral element followed by a moderate spice that fades to spearmint, ginger, cloves, vintage leather and polished mahogany with high ethanol burn. The finish is long with orange zest, stewed cinnamon caramel apples, chocolate covered candied pecans, vanilla snack pack pudding, ginger, spearmint, cloves, vintage leather and polished mahogany that lingers for minutes. This is basically bourbon perfection in a glass, that starts with big and bold traditional bourbon flavors on the nose followed by a very rich decadent mouthfeel with precision balance of those bourbon notes flowing perfectly until the finale of a long lingering finish that feels like forever with those traditional bourbon notes, vanilla pudding, herbal spices and old polished leather showcasing some very well aged bourbon. Well now that I’m blown away, I’ll need to put this in a cage fight with some of my favorites to see if it can wear that 5-star belt. The competition was fierce with Garrison Brothers Cowboy coming in strong but ultimately suffering a knockout kick to the head due to its overall youthful character really being taken advantage of by this one and Heaven’s Door 10-year Redbreast Finish was simply screaming for mercy after the first punch by this monster that left it feeling a bit thin and needing to go compete in a featherweight class instead of the heavy weights were this one belongs. So sheesh, alright Lex way to blow some of my favorites away, but what on Earth is this, how big of a hole is my bank account going to suffer and can I still buy it? Drumroll please, cue smoke machines and laser show followed by pyrotechnics unveiling the slip that states…….. Kentucky Owl Bourbon Batch 10!!!!