I was a huge fan of the WJ 12, I’m a fan of what they’re putting out in general. The price increase gets pretty steep after this one, but if it follows suit with its predecessor, I think I’ll play ball and pony up. Needless to say, I’m expecting good things from this. This one is from Batch #7, Bottle 1444, bottler in 2024. Nose: Cocoa and mocha. Brown sugar, brownie, caramel, and toffee. Vick’s Vapor Rub and black cherry. Gala apple. Leather and black pepper. Clove, nutmeg, dill and rye spice, and heaps of oak. Palate: Chewy caramel, brown sugar, milk and mint chocolate, and toffee. Fudge. Heavy Gala apple and black cherry. Carrot cake and vanilla ice cream. Pecan. Cocoa. Raisin and dried apricot. Black tea. Toasted almond and walnut. Sawdust and pipe smoke. Barrel char and oak. Finish: More of the fudge, toffee, vanilla ice cream, milk chocolate, caramel, toffee. Gala apple and dried apricot. Sawdust. Clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. Moderate-long finish. This is just excellent. I know this could be the snobbiest thing I’ve ever written, and feel free to let me know if it is, but as I’m sipping this in May, I couldn’t help but think that this truly an Autumn bourbon. High viscosity, chewy caramel, with apple and leather and plenty of spice. I particularly enjoy drinking bourbon in the fall for whatever reason, and the profile here encapsulates all of the reasons why. $100 for a 13 year old bourbon at this proof is a steal. It helps when it’s superb from the first whiff to the last tingle on the finish. Extremely balanced. I am now sold on springing for The Lucky Thirteen’s older siblings. 5/5.