Limited Edition Single Barrel 2014 Release
Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
59.5% ABV, Warehouse HW, Barrel No. 47-3G
$95
Color: cloudy light brown with an orange tone.
Smell: raspberries drenched in maple syrup. No alcohol heat whatsoever - just really smooth, unbelievably fruity and complex aromas. Bourbon sweetness/caramel fudge is there too, but the smell is all about the red fruit.
Taste: such a winner. Damn, this is good. Super refined and impeccably balanced throughout. Upfront it's all fruity sweetness - maple covered cherries/raspberries again come to mind - and the transition and aftertaste is where you get the slight cinnamon spice. Yet somehow, even this oak influence fades into the background - the finish brings the maple-covered red fruits back again. It's preposterous that this is barrel proof; you can drink this straight all day.Overall: unlike any other bourbon I've had, and easily one of the best whiskies I have ever been lucky enough to taste. Admittedly, I am a Four Roses fan, but this is a honey barrel the likes of which I have never seen. The fruitiness is so singular. Van Winkle stuff at its best - to me - is like a really great cigar: leather, tobacco, sweetness, and char. Four Roses is in a different stylistic realm. It's like really great pinot noir: red fruits, suppleness, finesse, and balance. Don't hesitate if you ever see this anywhere; must try!
