Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged 15 years
43% ABV (86 proof)
paid $47, but I've seen this all the way up to $90
Color: medium, nectarine brown
Smell: sweet and smooth, and very approachable. I get a maple syrup and honey sweetness, along with a smooth backbone of leather and soft oak influence. Maybe some green apple in there, too.
Taste: soft and smooth on entry, with the maple/honey sweetness most prominent - it's kind of nougat-y. Transition is pretty tame (86 proof), but the oak and leather components do make an appearance. The finish is medium length and decidedly tannic, although by no means harsh.
Overall: it's good, but subtle. For the age on this thing, I was expecting a big trip to flavortown, but the whole package is relatively muted and delicate. It smells nice, and it tastes fine, but there's not a ton to challenge your palate. It's hard to fault a whiskey for being smooth and delicious, but when I see an age statement like this, I come in with big-time expectations for flavor. Eagle Rare 17 comes to mind: pour a glass of that, and the whole room smells like a baseball glove drenched in clove-scented whiskey (at 90 proof, no less!). So, to sum up, it's fine - but not special, and particularly not if you're looking at it for $80. B.
