I’m officiating my cousin’s wedding this weekend here in Dripping Springs, so when the opportunity arose to sample a very local, grain-to-glass bourbon...I’m not saying no to that. The first thing that is obvious on the nose is the age, or lack thereof, of the spirit. That hard to describe, but recognizable scent mildly reminiscent of shoe polish is all over this dram. It’s not unpleasant per se, but it screams that the bourbon needs more time to mature into its true self. There’s a pronounced cinnamon and nutmeg spice beyond that, cherry cola, and vanilla custard. The palate matches the nose - very young, but at least fairly smooth with minimal burn. The flavors are spice-forward, Red Hot candies and crema Catalana dusted with nutmeg washed down with a sip of cherry cola. Overall, this is a promising start. I think the base spirit is high quality stuff, but it needs more time in the barrel to live into its potential. With some more time and care to develop those flavors and build up some more complex layers, this could become a truly excellent bourbon. As is, it’s a perfectly fine, if a bit unexciting, drink for a rehearsal dinner.