Private Barrel Selection - 14 Year
obtained via bottle swap w/ Bobby Childs
This is the third of about a dozen posts rolling out in the next few weeks...the long-delayed results of a bottle swap from several months ago between Bobby (of Adventures in Whiskey) and me. I'm a huge George Dickel fan, and am really excited to taste the private barrel 14 year version. Although not reviewed previously, one of my all-time favorite whiskies was a 9 year old private barrel selection of Dickel, so I'm interested to see what an additional half-decade of aging brings to the table.
Color: medium/dark brown, maintaining a little bit of an auburn streak.
Smell: this is rich, sweaty, heavily wood-driven nose, similar to George T Stagg or Elijah Craig 18 (or many other old bourbons), Toffee, burnt corn, baking spices, cracker jack, tobacco, furniture polish, and lumberyard smells all mix together. Beyond any one note or combination, there's an anticipation of a hugely rich tasting experience. It smells like the palate is going to be thick and viscous. Basically, bourbon nirvana (I know it's not technically bourbon...).Taste: very good. Given the big-time nose, I was anticipating an immediate whallop on the palate. Instead, the entry is relatively quiet, with dark sweets and slight red cherry fruitiness on entry. The midpalate thumps in with a lot more barrel influence, and the baking spices, tobacco, and oak carry through to the medium, cheek-puckering finish. It's surprisingly light and smooth for such an old whiskey - not at all "chewy," which has been my experience with other older bourbons.
Overall: I like this a lot, it's a solid "A-." It has one of the purest "old bourbon" noses I've ever encountered. The palate is a slight let-down in terms of richness, but it drinks vibrant and smooth, and there's plenty to savor. A total no-brainer of a purchase if your local liquor store participates in the private barrel program!
