The first of many bonus samples from this last round of the SDT comes by way of tour member @Scott_E in the form of Rough Rider Straight Bourbon Whisky out of Long Island, NY. Bottled at 45% ABV and is natural color of amber gold and is most likely chill filtered. The nose has distinct notes of red and Concord grapes, peanut brittle and charred oak. Very sweet with the corn notes coming into focus after a few minutes. The wine notes are very much in the foreground at all times. A bit of a cotton candy flavor and faint rye notes, but without any of the dill notes typically associated with rye. Some musty cardboard but not too bad and a quick hit of cherry wood. Grape candy, banana, and at the bottom of the glass there is some potpourri. The palate is straight up peanut butter and jelly on rye. Wow is that weird. It’s a good weird though, quite unique from anything I’ve ever had in the past. A little charred oak and toffee with vanilla. The corn notes are punched way back and the spice from the rye is more dominant with some banana rounding things out. A medium light bodied mouthfeel that’s a bit thin but decent. The finish is medium length with peanuts, oak, rye that turns slightly metallic and a bit floral. With a name like Rough Rider I was expecting some a little, well, rougher. Quite amazing how strong the PB&J notes were. Not great as far as bourbons go, but it’s unique profile continued to hold my attention. This is a 3 star dram, but the sheer oddity of the PB&J profile bumps it up to a 3.25 Cheers