Jose-Massu-Espinel
Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
February 24, 2020 (edited April 10, 2020)
It might sound like fantasy, but here in my hometown Guayaquil, Ecuador, there is a man that has a lot of Pappy bottles and some other very, very fancy bourbouns, and he found out i was a whisky enthusiast and a critic, so he invited me to his house along with other friends to a tasting and i got to say, we drank some very, very, very fancy and expensive bourbon yesterday.
I got drunk drinking pappy. Lots of it. The 12yo, the 15yo and the 20yo. I believe that my organs are now golden.
Well, lets do this. Pappy 20yo is as expensive as it is scarce. It is an unicorn. It is practically unreachable. I have had the 12yo (lot b) which was great and it was the favorite of the host of the tasting; and, i have had the 15yo (and had it again yesterday) and i got to say the 15yo is the best by far, making this 20yo the second best, because of something that some expensive old whiskies have: fancy tasting notes and easy drinkable character, but not the complexity we whisky enthusiasts/critics want.
45.2% abv, chesnut color. Beautiful. (90.4 proof actually).
On the nose it has a lot going on: Banana, Cherry, strawberry, Super refined and fancy vanilla, Prunes, lots of Maple syrup, Herbal Fresh forest notes.
On the palate is very pleasant and easy drinkable. Maybe too easy drinkable. You just dont feel 45.2%abv is happening here due to its smoothness.
Mostly oaky but in the most beautiful way, Herbal notes, a rye sweetness/spicyness, and Prunes. It could be better.
Aftertaste is heavenly. Is where it gets all the points Ashy and the most amazing ginger spiciness ever. Eternal aftertaste. Amazing.
Very balanced, very well crafted. Overall i give this superb bourbon a 96 over 100, and ill stick to Pappy 15yo. Slainte my friends!
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