Review #109 Type: bourbon Proof: 45.2% Comments: NAS, matured in charred American virgin oak barrels, finished 6-12 months in new heavily toasted / lightly charred oak barrels Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Old oak color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs form moderately quickly. Nose: 16/20 Immediately this comes across as rich, layered, and very sweet. Vanilla and toffee are most evident, interwoven with cinnamon, baking cocoa, and dark cherries. There’s also more subtle aromas of leather, charred oak, and burnt marshmallow. Palate: 29/40 Thin mouthfeel. Very oak forward, but in more of a woody sawdust type of way. A little oak spice is present as well, in the accompaniment of cinnamon, bitter chocolate, and other baking spices I can’t quite pinpoint. It’s not very sweet here at all, actually coming off as a bit drying. Finish: 32/40 Medium finish. Gets started with oak and rye spices, a few raisins I think too. I don’t think of raisins as juicy, but this subtle note really pops a bit after and how dry the palate comes across. As these flavors fade, they’re replaced by leather and spent coffee grounds, with the final ending note is reminiscent of the aftertaste that comes with taking cough syrup. With Water: A few drops of water softens the wood flavors on the palate, and now I’m able to pull out hints of vanilla and caramel. I didn’t discern any meaningful differences to the nose or finish. Total: 77/100 Final thoughts: This bourbon is one of my favorites for making bourbon-based cocktails (when I can find it), but I haven’t enjoyed any pours directly from it in some time. This particular bottle was a gift from a friend, and it served us well that evening in helping shape some absolutely beautiful smoked old fashioned’s which we enjoyed by the lake during a cool summer night. The capacity that whisky has to take us back and revisit memories with just a sip is remarkable. I’ll definitely be on the hunt to buy another of these bottles once this one has been depleted, but mixing it into cocktails is the primary way I’ll plan to enjoy it as I can easily come up with a half dozen other bourbons at similar price points which are, for me, more flavorful. Price: gift Would recommend: maybe Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.