Batch No. 2015-03 "The Center Cut" (steak picture)
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged 7 years, 2 months, 28 days
63.6% ABV (127.2 proof)
paid $50
Color: medium rusty brown (reddish tint).
Smell: absolutely massive, but with very little overt alcohol heat. Tons of cinnamon and baking spices, along with charred oak and burnt caramel. It's a package of really sweet heat - like Memphis barbecue sauce marinated Big Red gum sticks being grilled over charcoal. But there's also more sophistication and smoothness here than you'd expect for only 7 years in the barrel - leather and pipe tobacco aromas that I've only picked up in whiskies much older are definitely here in the background.
Taste: huge. Despite the proof, plenty of burnt caramel sweetness upfront. Midpalate brings in a lot more of the spicebox, cinnamon most prominently. Huge wood influence and a chewy mouthfeel, but it's well integrated and not just a bell or whistle. The medium finish features wood and more spice, but wraps everything up smoothly - again, a shocking lack of alcohol heat considering the proof.Overall: This is dynamite stuff, easy A-/A, and highly recommended. The total package is a great mix of sweet, woody, spicy, and even smoky. It feels weird labeling an eyeball-searing 127 proof whiskey "fresh" or "vibrant," but that's exactly what came to mind throughout this tasting.
