"DeLuxe"
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
46% ABV (92 proof)
~$50 (sample provided)
I don't have a ton of background info on this whiskey. Cursory research indicates that it's solera aged and that they're really hyping the Stitzel-Weller angle. My bottle is from batch WLCFSS-2.
Color: medium chestnut brown.
Smell: really nice...very fruit-driven and floral/perfumey for a bourbon. It's approachable on the nose, but complex. Some bourbons hit with straightforward caramel sweetness, but this is more integrated. I get strawberries/cherries dipped in caramel, vanilla extract, and - especially after it sits for a while - some cinnamon (red hots) and a bit of toasted oak. On the nose it reminds me a lot of Van Winkle 10 and 12 and also Four Roses Single Barrel as far as the integrated flavors. Really great start.Taste: exactly what I was hoping for. Plenty of complex red fruit-driven sweetness upfront, and then a big wave of tobacco spice on the midpalate and finish. The only complaint is that it gets a little bitter/tannic on the finish (too much oak?).
Overall: very pleasantly surprised by this whiskey. The aroma is on par with the best of the best bourbons, but on the palate there's just a little too much bitterness on the back end to keep it from the big leagues. Solid B+/A-, and recommended.
