Estate Bottled
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
50.5% ABV (101 proof)
paid $30
(note: there are like 5,000 descriptions on the label...it's hilarious. "Kentucky's Gold Medal Award," "Kentucky State Fair Award for Excellence," "Distilled in Kentucky," "Bottled in Historic Bardstown," "'Bourbon Centre' Kentucky," "Fifth Generation of Distillers," "Kentucky's Finest," "Kentucky Barrel Aged for Excellence," "Old Time Sour Mash," etc.).
Color: medium chestnut brown.
Smell: a little hot at first - alcohol fumes. Once it settles down, it's a very pleasing nose. I'm not sure what the mash bill is on this, but it smells very corn-heavy. Lots of dusty corn along with smooth vanilla and caramel sweetness. There's a little bit of oak influence, but nothing outrageous...just a hint of spicy/toasty elements.Taste: completely in keeping with the nose. Good hit of dusty corn and caramel sweetness upfront, and then the transition brings in the oak spice. Good balance of flavors, but not super deep. The medium finish is smooth, considering the proof, and marked more by oak influence than it is by lingering sweetness or granary notes.
Overall: it's fine. Solid B, but not worth seeking out in my opinion. It's a little thin and hot, particularly on the finish. I prefer and would recommend a lot of other bottles at or below this price point, including Dickel 12, Evan Williams Single Barrel, Wild Turkey 101, and Elijah Craig 12.
