I live in Washington, D.C., home of America's worst commute and highest cost of living. But it's not all bad - we have Jack Rose! It's north of Dupont Circle in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, and it's a national whiskey treasure. The bar has a whiskey list that is more library than menu (over 2,000 whiskies!), and you can easily spend 45 minutes just reading it. They helpfully offer all of their whiskies in 1 and 2 ounce pours, so you can try bottles you'd never be able to find for a reasonable price. It's whiskey nerd paradise, basically.
I (finally) narrowed down my selections to what you see here: a barrel strength Four Roses OESQ and a "Jack Rose 2015" private selection Willett 11 year bourbon. And damn, did I make good choices!
These are not formal reviews, but my impressions were:
Four Roses: much lighter, sweeter, and fruitier than any other Four Roses bourbon I've had. Definitely picked up the banana bread pudding smell that others have noticed in this expression. The barrel influence was less lumber and oak for me and more tar/rubber in a really interesting (and not off-putting) way. Super smooth going down at 60% ABV, and definitely recommended.Willett: this was impressive. Look how deep dark mahogany the color is! Nose was an explosion of sweet red fruits and vanilla, and it was very soft and smooth on the palate and finish. This is a real crowd-pleaser of a whiskey, especially considering its proof. Not as much of a chewy, spicy, leathery oak bomb as Stagg or even Elijah Craig Barrel Proof; this is instead an uncommonly smooth and sweet expression and well worth trying if you're in the area.
