Liquor Barn “High Corn 1”, barrel # 8267, 124.4 proof Finally got my hands on this unicorn; a Willett purple top!!! Is it all it’s cracked up to be? Read on… Nose offers buttered popcorn, vanilla, caramel, soft oak, and a hint of barrel char. Ethanol almost non-existent. The popcorn note is nice, but I’m going to be honest here; the nose is a little muted. Palate opens with the buttered corn from the nose, followed by some rich vanilla, plum, date, raisin, black cherry, cookie dough, walnut, and what can best be described as “funk”. No, I have to do better than that description; the funk is earthy, musty, and sort of root vegetable. (Turnip? Rhubarb?) Whatever it is, it’s pretty addicting, and is what is driving repeated sips. Complex and punchy. Finish is sweet and spicy with cinnamon, pepper, baked apple, nutmeg, and burnt caramel. Definitely what I am looking for in a bourbon. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and effervescent, with some alcohol sizzle. I’d say this lives up to hype pretty darn well. I traded a 2021 RR13 bought at retail for this so my cost was 69.99. Retail is well over $100 with secondary reaching truly insane heights. Is it worth retail? Undoubtedly yes. Secondary? Is this writers opinion, no. But definitely top notch.