Up tonight is a review of another bottle from last season that is getting kicked out of the bunker in order to make room for the impending bourbon avalanche (fall release season) nearly upon us. I'm feverishly knocking out bottles to make room on my shelves and while I am at it I figure I will review each bottle when it's cashing out. Up tonight we have a bottle that has been generally well received but I feel maybe doesn't get all the accolades it deserves. I knew I liked it but my opinion of it was boosted considerably when it finished second only to the 2013 Four Roses Small Batch LE in my whiskey group's blind tasting against other 2013 allocated items earlier this month.
48.0% ABV; Aged 10 years; $90
The nose is pretty typical of a well rounded bourbon. The ethanol alcohol is contributing to a faint furniture polish scent but mostly it's all the other stuff you really want - pervasive oak and lots of sweet wood sugars. The sweetness comes in the form of classic caramel and maple syrup.
The taste is sweet and creamy with slight hints of spice. Up front there is honey, vanilla, and lots more of the syrups from the nose. All of that is intermingled towards the backend with less sweet notes of cinammon rye, light barrel char, and an earthiness like mowed grass. The finish lasts for a good bit and has deeper resounding sweet notes.
It's an extremely balanced bourbon but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's that complex. I don't feel like this one has any tricks up its sleeve - everything with it is just all out on the table. It's not going to bowl you over with outstanding individual characteristics. It's just a straight up, classic, well rounded, no bullshit bourbon. Ironically for me I find that is what does make it outstanding, if that makes any sense.
Rating: A-
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