Special Reserve
12 Years Old, Lot "B"
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
45.2% ABV
$60
Color: cloudy goldenrod, flecks of tangerine
Smell: sweet. caramel, maple syrup, and a buttery vanilla richness. No alcohol heat - all the aromas come together in a seamless and approachable nose. Classic sweet bourbon smells, with very little overt oakiness or spice.
Taste: yeah, this is really good. It tastes almost exactly like it smells - all velvety sweetness in the initial rush. What separates this from other offerings, in my opinion, is its silky transition and finish. I kept waiting for some kind of burn to set in, but aside from a brief smooth tobacco-like note upon swallowing (not harsh at all and actually quite pleasing, like a mild cigar), the lingering aftertaste just takes you right back to what you initially got on the nose - all sugary goodness.Overall: I guess there's a reason that Van Winkle stuff has a following - it's really damn good. To me, this is pretty much the bourbon equivalent of really nice creme brulee. Aside from being very nice-smelling and nice-tasting, the VW 12 stands out for being so smooth. And therein might be my only criticism: it's not an incredibly long-lasting, "haunt your palate for hours" bourbon. To me, it almost loses something for being so easy to drink - the finish is relatively short. If someone poured me 24 ounces of this in a water glass, I would probably drink it in 15 minutes by accident. Don't take that the wrong way: if you're a bourbon fan, you will love this, no doubt (and bourbon is made for drinking, after all!). It's just not a whiskey I will find myself dreaming about tasting, like Lagavulin or - nightmare! - Booker's.
If it wasn't for the insane secondary mark-ups, it would be the perfect introductory "girlfriend bourbon." It's absolutely worth seeking out and tasting, if you can get your hands on it. Like its younger brother, however, the hype is likely not worth the premium in this bourbon-crazed world of ours. You'd be a fool to pay hundreds for a bottle of this unless you're in the regular habit of lighting money on fire. Is it better than Elijah Craig 12? Yeah, for sure. But would you rather have a swimming pool of EC12 or a bottle of this?
