"Rare Old Sippin' Whiskey"
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged 7 Years
50.5% ABV (101 proof)
~$18 (sample provided)
Color: medium yellowish brown
Smell: this smells really good. Despite its proof, it's very approachable and mellow on the sniff. I get a big whiff of sweet dusty corn most prominently, along with some honey and hay. As it sits, a smooth leathery scent also shows up, along with some furniture polish.
Taste: slight honey sweetness upfront, but it's more grassy and hay-like on entry (not a bad thing). Things get a little hot during the transition in the form of alcohol burn, oak, and pepper. These notes persist through the medium finish. It's a throat burner going down.Overall: B- for me. I don't love it, but it's not bad, and it's certainly a good value. This bourbon smells better than it tastes. It's a little too thin and alcoholic on the palate for me. In this price range, I prefer Evan Williams Black in head-to-head smoothness.
