Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Small Batch, Aged 9 Years
50% ABV (100 proof)
~$35-40 (sample provided)
Color: Medium brown, little bit of an orange glow
Smell: very bourbony, and very nice. Lots of vanilla and caramel sweetness, especially after it opens up for a minute. Also some oakiness and cinnamon spice.
Taste: great sweet flavors upfront, caramel and vanilla most prominent for me. Racy oak backbone comes into play quickly on the transition, and brings some heat and pepper. The medium finish has a creamy aspect to it and it features toasty wood and some coconut.
Overall: this is really solid, definitely in the B+/A- range for me, and a good value. Big, punchy bourbon with unmistakable flavor clearly driven by the 9 years in oak. It tips a little too far into oak land for my palate, but it's not unbalanced by any means. Similar to Russell's Reserve, Wild Turkey, and Booker's in its flavor profile. That is to say, full-bodied and racy/spicy as opposed to the softer/smoother sipping whiskies. Highly recommended, but make sure you gravitate towards this type of whiskey.