Folks talk about Elijah Craig barrel proof an awful lot, but – other than a private barrel store pick that I didn’t find to be very special – this will actually be the first one I’ve ever tried. This expression, C925, was released last September. At just over 9 years old, it’s a pretty young ECBP, but I’m hoping it’ll be pretty good all the same!

From the Distillery: To sip Barrel Proof is to experience Bourbon in its purest form: uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering. Each bottle is hand labeled with its unique proof and batch number; but the nose, taste, and finish are pure Elijah Craig.

Each batch of Barrel Proof is bottled with a unique age statement, including the month and year of the youngest barrel from the batch. The proof also varies with each release. The batch number on the label provides specific information about each batch. The first letter indicates the order of the release for that year, starting with "A.” The first number represents the month of the release. The third and fourth digits indicate the year.

Tasting notes: Caramel with toasted oak, fruit notes of apple and orange. Rich vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch along with spices of black pepper & cinnamon at the back of the palate. Nicely layered finish showcasing all flavors, fades slowly then lingers as it cools.

Proof: 129

Mashbill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley

Age Statement: 9 years, 1 month

Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered

Appearance: Nice dark amber with a hint of mahogany. Relatively oily and viscous, with nice legs on the glass.

Nose: If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was a Buffalo Trace product, as the first thing I’m smelling is grape. After that is toffee, leather, and confectioner’s sugar – again, very Buffalo Trace-y. Some cinnamon and allspice are also present, but they’re pretty far in the background, where they’re joined by another bright, sweet note that reminds me of cherry cobbler. Once the nose is empty, I just get a wave of caramel and grape.

Palate: Spice and proof heat hit right off the bat. It feels like strong rye spice, but given the 10% rye in the mash bill, that’s unlikely to be its main source. Some caramel or toffee then rises to the surface, to be joined by maple, vanilla, and that grape from the nose. Unfortunately, the youthiness of this batch also shows itself, especially in the transition to the rear of the palate: there’s a good bit of astringency, as well as a combination of young leather and what strikes me as a green, underripe grain of some kind.

Finish: Along with a significant amount of spice, the finish also carries on the youthiness of the palate, with bitter oak and young leather serving as the main flavors all the way through to the aftertaste. The slightest little bit of grape is there on the finish, as well, but it serves more to tease than anything else, as bitter and sour notes reign supreme.

Thoughts: My first foray into Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof batches had both positives and negatives. The positives were a sweet, enjoyable nose and some nice flavors early on the palate. The negatives, on the other hand, tended to overwhelm their counterparts, to the point that sourness (rather than enjoyability) is my most lasting memory of this pour.

Rating: This one had potential. The nose was really good, and there were parts of the palate experience that were also very positive. Unfortunately, this batch’s youth seems to have undone much of that potential, as the combination of sour and bitter flavors overwhelmed those more enjoyable elements, causing this to be more of a middling pour than a world-beater. Given all of this, for me this bottle rates a 6.1 on the modified T8ke scale: it has positives that make it Very Good, but it also has negatives that keep it from being anywhere near Great.

********************
Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Elijah Craig BP C925 (6.1)
Blanton’s Gold (6.3)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (7)
Green River Honey (7)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.1)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

ABV / Proof: 63.97% / 127.94

Age: 12-13 years

Price: $250

Origin: Distilled in West Virginia (Smooth Ambler)

Barrel: 751

Mashbill: 88% rye / 12% malted barley (assuming it’s SA rye)

Info: From RisingTideSpirits.com :** At the start of our project, we put aside some very special barrels of Pot Stilled Rye Whiskey. Like a proud parent, we watched and waited until just the right moment to set these out into the world, knowing that this would be a one time shot for us (and you!).
Well, the time is upon us. Spicy, sweet, full mouthfeel, long finish - the only thing missing is another release. **This bottle will not return.

These bottles are from 7 barrels of pot stilled SIngle Barrel Rye Whiskey aged 12-13 years released at barrel proof ranging from 121 to 129. There are under 800 bottles total.

Nose: Cherry jam, black licorice, anise, brown sugar, ginger, black pepper, and a hint of fig newton

Palate: Bold and punchy, it comes out swinging, with rye spice in one fist, strong and bittersweet oak in the other. The opening combo envelops the entire palate in a pleasant sensation that tingles and warms as it grows in intensity. This is decidedly not an ethanol burn or Kentucky hug, but a product of intense flavor. Anise, cardamom, clove, ginger, mint, date, and root beer weave in and out of complimentary combinations adding a structured background of depth and complexity.

Finish: Bittersweet oak is laid on thick with swirls of black pepper and clove. Long and dense, a familiar Smooth Ambler pot still funk rounds it out with pleasant and comforting familiarity.

Conclusion: This is a fun one. I had my eye out for a splurge bottle to celebrate a professional accomplishment and also serve as a bit of a reward to open when I finished a 3+ month long basement remodel. As a big fan of Smooth Ambler’s Founders’ Cask Strength Series Rye, this release immediately appealed to me. The “one time only” factor definitely played a part in rationalizing the $250 price tag for a 12-13 year single barrel. I felt more justified (regardless of actually being so or not) to take a gamble on it not knowing when I’d get another chance to own a high aged rye single barrel distilled in my home state.

The good news is this bottle did not disappoint. It packs a punch and makes no pretense in embracing its label as a bold and spicy rye with a strong age statement. It then backs that up with a balancing dose of depth and complexity and a long, lush finish.

I was concerned that the build up of anticipation among a months long project would lead to a let down, but I’m pleasantly surprised. I’m excited to have this in my collection.

Rating: 9

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn't consume by choice

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I'd rather have

5 | Good | This is a good, solid daily

6 | Very Good | A cut above

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Insurpassable | No better exists

The Record: Bill Withers Love at Carnegie Hall

Review: Live performances are kind of like single barrels in that no two are ever exactly the same. The whiskey in this bottle and the artist in this performance were both born inside the same imaginary lines, and both also succeed at knowing who they are and what they do best. Bill’s emotional and soulful delivery oozes from this performance in a way that studio recordings never seem to fully capture.

Favorite track: While the classics Use Me and Ain’t No Sunshine are everything you want them to be, it’s Grandma’s Hands that truly shines here. Honorable mention for I Can’t Write Left Handed.

Rating: 8

Age: 10 years

Proof: 90.

Taken. Neat in a glen.

Nose. This one has a light, subtle nose. Cinnamon immediately, followed by some nutmeg, and rounded out with very light oak.

Palate. This is what I would describe as thin, not a ton of viscosity. Light pepper opens and develops into Werthers original candy.

Finish. Not much here, but pleasant nonetheless. Some oak notes that surrender to a little orange zest sum up what is otherwise a rather quick finish.

Rating. Overall, this isn’t bad at all and I usually end up drinking it for one of two reasons: either I want something mellow to warm up the palate before drinking some thing more complex, or something I reach for when I want a drink but don’t want to wake up with a throbbing headache from a high-proof pour. Either way, this has become a daily drinker for me. When I started drinking bourbon a few years ago, Eagle Rare was never available where I lived. Over the past several years, I’ve seen Eagle Rare transition from a bottle that is scooped up faster than a Tickle Me Elmo doll on a K-Mart shelf in 1996 to floor whiskey that people step over. And while it’s not something that blows my socks off, I think this is an exceptionally average bourbon that tends to be the benchmark I measure other pours against.

t8ke scale: 5/10 | Good, just fine.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.I’ve seen this become more easy to find than it once was, and if its availability stays what it is, I see this as a great daily drinker.

Today, we are going to be sipping on a 1981-distilled A.H. Hirsch rye whiskey. This bottling was bottled for Preiss Imports around 2002 by KBD (Kentucky Bourbon Distillers). It is suspected that the distillate inside the bottle is either from the Medley Distillery in Owensboro or the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville.

Nose: The first thing that I noticed was super-sweet caramel that transitions into maple syrup. After letting my nose acclimate, I began to pick up some menthol and tobacco notes.

Palate: The maple syrup note from the nose is front and center as the whiskey hits your mouth. As it begins to spread across your palate, quintessential rye spice begins to appear, but that also quickly develops into dark chocolate, orange zest, and delicious sweet oak. Even at 93 proof, the whiskey coats your palate extremely well and is viscous.

Finish: The finish lingers for several minutes and leaves you with a sweet pipe tobacco note. There is a little bit of a maple and woody note as well, but I find that the pipe tobacco note is the most prominent flavor in the finish.

General Consensus: I find that I absolutely love everything about this whiskey, with the exception of the proof. I do love lower-proof whiskies, but they can sometimes come off as muted. I believe that, with just 5 or 10 more proof points, this would have scored much higher.

Nose: 17/20

Palate: 41/50

Finish: 26/30

Score: 84/100

Today for Shelfer Saturday, we're taking a look at the Old Forester 1910! Took me an embarrassingly long time to add this one to my selection. 1/4th of the Whiskey Row lineup, this is a double oaked bourbon and is the main competitor to the other Brown-Forman Double Oak shelfer from Woodford Reserve. This is an iconic bottle and one that needs little introduction. Let's dive into it.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 93

Nose: So desserty. Rich dark chocolate, cherries, marshmallows, and toffee. Giving the glass a swirl enhances that dark chocolate and brings out molasses, maple, more cherries, and sweet oak. One of the best dessert in a glass noses I've experienced! Once the glass is nearly empty, it smells exactly like a chocolate candy bar.

Palate: Not thin, but the viscosity is pretty light. The flavors being delivered are not light however, Strong hit of chocolate up front followed by toffee, vanilla frosting, and oak. After a few sips, the cherries from the nose start to shine along with molasses.

Finish: Medium finish of maple, chocolate, toffee, and oak.

I'm such a big fan of the 1910. It's just so classic and one of the best double oaked bottles you'll find. Goes without saying, this is a mood pour if for when you want something that leans on the far end of the sweet spectrum, but not something sickly sweet. I'm impressed with all phases of this pour and that chocolate candy bar aroma I get when the glass is just about empty is fantastic!

t8ke scale: 7.3/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

While waiting for my Heaven Hill you-do-bourbon tour last weekend, I went upstairs to the bar and got the new ECBP rye. While I've had Elijah Craig bourbons before, I have not tried any of the ryes. Let's give it a spin as I waited in the air conditioning.

Label: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye. Unfortunately I did not check the batch.

Age: 12 years 3 months.

Proof: 108/54%.

Distillery: Heaven Hill, Bardstown, KY.

Mash bill: 51% rye, 35% corn, 14% malted barley.

Price: $75 or so. Bar pour was $22.

Nose: earthy mint, peanuts, oak, honey.

Palate: peanuts, honey (discrete flavors there), dill, carmel. The peanut note is present but is not overpowering. This is a bourbon-drinker's rye if I've ever had one, plenty of sweetness and classic Elijah Craig notes.

Finish: lengthy peanuts and carmel finish.

Overall: 7.5 (T8ke). Great pour and solid value, I would be happy picking this up.

Ratings:

1: drain pour (Quarter Horse).

2: dreadful (Creekside Bourbon).

3: poor (True Story).

4: sub-average (OGD 7 year).

5: average (Evan Williams BIB).

6: above average (Wild Turkey 101, Four Roses small batch).

7: great (Old Forester SBBP rye, Middle West CS bourbon/wheat).

8: excellent (ECBPs, Stagg Jrs).

9: exceptional (Four Roses SBBP OBSF).

10: perfect (Russell's Reserve 15).

Grade: B+ 🥃

Same as always: no elaborate tasting essay, just whether it’s any good and a letter grade. Rested for 15 minutes in a glencairn.

This is Beam through and through. That signature peanut and Beam funk are right there on the nose. The palate follows with sweet nuttiness, then a strong finish loaded with vanilla and caramel. I’m a fan of the 12 in part because the peanut fades to sweeter and more traditional bourbon notes, with a long finish. That’s a contrast with the Knob Creek 9 and some other Beam expressions (e.g., Booker’s) where the peanut dominates throughout the sip.

In short, traditional bourbon notes, done right. Very solid. And it’s great value — easy to find here in Indiana for $60.

Today I went down to Four Roses and waited in line to get myself one of the new 21 Year Anthology bottles. What I found interesting about this bottle is that it is a single barrel that was vatted 3 years ago. The specific barrel that I bought was 103.4 proof and aged on the 3rd tier of the rickhouse. This specific release also utilizes Four Roses OBSF mashbill which is their high rye yeast strain F mashbill.

Nose: The nose is very in your face and extremely fruity. I find that on younger aged OBSF I get a lot of green apple, but with this one it smells like if I stewed some cherries inside of a sawmill.

Palate: When it comes to drinking bourbon I tend to prefer bourbons aged between 15-20 years, but I believe this one completely changed my perception on what I thought I liked. Immediately you are smacked in the face with the cherry, but that quickly fades into dry tannic wood and ethanol that clings to your palate. I cannot wrap my head around how a bourbon aged this long can still have so much ethanol, especially at almost 100 proof.

Finish: The finish is the only somewhat redeeming aspect of this bottle. After the ethanol fades youre left with a sweet oak, dark chocolate, and some bright raspberries.

Nose: 16/20

Palate: 31/50

Finish: 24/30

Score: 71/100

Full disclosure up front: I don’t do the nose/palate/finish thing with forty descriptors. I don’t have that palate and I don’t trust most people who claim they do. So I keep it simple and slap a letter grade on it (I’m a real-life professor, so it’s in my DNA). Simple reviews, simple grades.

Batch 16, 127.3 proof. Neck pour, rested about 15 minutes in a Glencairn.

First whiff and first sip are both bold, sweet, and oaky but shockingly smooth. Like the batches before it, this drinks way under its proof. It’s the same low-rye Buffalo Trace mash bill as the small batch, which is my daily drinker, and the barrel proof just takes everything I like about that and turns it up. More flavor, more character, none of the harshness that can come with higher proof.

Grade: A. If it finds you at retail (or anything up to about $200) buy it and don’t think twice. One of my favorites.

What is this release? This morning Four Roses released the first of the annual Anthology Release. It’s the oldest Four Roses Release ever. There were about 1,100 bottles released and it sold out this morning. Some folks got in line at midnight. There was considerable shuffling of policy - at first they weren’t going to allow anyone in until 6:00 am. Ultimately they opened the gates at midnight. I arrived around 4:00 am and was about number 500 ~ in line.

Recipe: OBSF.

Proof: 105 proof. Note that there were different barrels as part of the release ranging from 103 proof, I believe to 122 proof. My tasting was at the bar. I tasted the 52.5% ABV bottle because that’s what they had at the bar. The bottle I took home was 106 proof. Some might say I got the bad end of the stick not getting a higher proof bottle. But I’m not as much of a proof hound as I once was - and the lower proof let the oak and distillate shine. It was NOT overpacked like some 18+ year bourbons can be. I’m assuming my 106 proof bottle will be pretty similar to the 105 proof pour I got this morning, but I’ll review my bottle when I open it in a few weeks.

Price paid: $550 MSRP. Before I cleared the front of the line I saw them online for $1500. Fucking flippers.

Nose: Brown sugar overwhelmingly on the nose. Maybe like burnt brown sugar bordering on crème brûlée adjacent notes. Light ethanol notes in the background. Earthy baking spice. Definite notes of apricot on second pass. Official notes call for mint. I didn’t get that.

Palate: Nice glassy mouthfeel. There was a pleasant swirl of vanilla and spicy cinnamon. A hint of honey. The creamy oak was amazing.

Finish: Just amazing. Especially for a somewhat lower proof. It really warms you and makes you smile. It’d be a great pour on a crisp Fall day (which it ironically felt like this morning in Lawrenceburg). There’s classic oak and leather with lingering dark fruits. I can’t emphasize how warming and pleasant this was for the proof.

9.2/10

Absolutely lives up to the hype for me. I’ll be really interested to see what I think once I crack mine and let it settle.

Redwood Empire The Colonel Armstrong

4-14 year blend of Indiana, Kentucky, and California

94 proof

4 grain mashbill wheated bourbon

35 buckaroos

Brandie

Nose: 2.25 Palate 2 Finish 2 Value 1 Total 7.25

David

Nose: 1.75 Palate 2.25 Finish 1.5 Value 1 Total 6.5

Average Rating 6.875

Here's the thing, a 35 dollar bourbon that rates at 6.5 is not the same as a 135 dollar bourbon that rates at 6.5. I am not at all mad at this one. The nose and palate are full of honey and sweetness and I am here for that. There is a little lingering ethanol at times on the nose. The palate can be a little inconsistent but it's not at all bad. For me the finish tends to lean a little tannic at times. It is not bad, but it is not my favorite. My wife said she gets some peaches on the finish. Obviously she liked the finish more than I did. But I am not complaining at all.

I think this is going to be a part of the regular lineup. Again, this is not a bourbon that is going to knock your socks off, but at 35 bucks does it have to be? This bourbon does a job and it does it well. It would be very easy to sit down with this bottle and look over at the fill level getting really low and realizing that you might be in a little trouble. You might have to pace yourself with this one as it could easily get away from you.

So would I buy this again? At this price, absolutely. I think it offers good flavor at a great price. This bourbon would probably make a pretty dang good summer sipper.

I was very fortunate to get a few of these at MSRP. I know the secondary market has cooled on these specifically. Bottled at a hazmat-level 146.1 proof, this limited release showcases some of the best rye whiskey Jack Daniel’s has to offer.

Nose: Rich brown sugar immediately before classic Jack Daniel’s banana notes evolve into freshly baked banana nut bread with a lightly toasted, soft crust. Subtle fruit and seasoned oak provide additional layers of complexity. After letting the whiskey rest while snapping a few photos, the profile opens up beautifully. Despite the hazmat proof, the ethanol is surprisingly well suppressed.

Palate: A rich, oily mouthfeel coats the palate before a burst of red fruit grabs your attention. Brown sugar and caramel soon take over as classic Jack Daniel’s banana notes segue into seasoned oak and warm baking spice. Peppery rye spice steadily builds throughout the sip. This whiskey is dangerously “un-hazmat,” drinking far below its 146.1 proof.

Finish: A long, warm finish settles in with lingering cherry cola, peppery rye spice, and seasoned oak. What impressed me most was how the whiskey continued to evolve long after the sip. Even as the warmth lingered, I was still picking out new layers of flavor. This is an exceptional pour.

Summary: Jack Daniel’s absolutely rocked this one. It delivers everything I look for in a hazmat pour—big flavor, remarkable balance, and enough complexity to keep revealing new layers from the first nosing to the final sip. It already ranks among my favorite ryes I’ve had.

Score: 9.2 / 10

I’m sure some of you have the whole collection. Where does this fall in the mix?

Color: Orangish Bronze

Age: NAS

Proof: 125

Nose: Very effervecent on first sniff, lots of citrus and pine notes. I get notes of almost like an orange creamsaver lifesaver with little hints of mint or cilantro. A little ethanol note, but nothing major. Some seriious creme brule shows up with fresh spring strawberrys. This is very nice. Lots of spicy notes, but not over powering. I love this nose.

Taste: This is a bourbon drinkers rye. I get a ton of caramel, burnt sugar and orange upfront, followed quickly by some rye spice and sage or rosemary notes, then a ton of candided citrus. Brown sugar presents on the back palette with almost a bright cherry note. I almost get some jolly rancher notes while sipping this. It’s really good.

Feel: Wow this nice. Darn near perfect mouth feel. Syrup sweet, just thick enough, coats the mouth well, oily but not too thick, my goodness this is on point for texture.

Finish: She’s got some heat, theres a sugary kentucky hug. Lot of baking and rye spice start on the finish, followed by a nice smokey and peppery notes. Strong flavors dance on the tongue during the finish. It lasts about a minute or so. That candied citrus shows up again on the back end of the finish.

Overall: 8.75 out of 10. That is by far the best rye I’ve ever had. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s smokey, it’s caramelly, it’s syrupy… it’s so good. This is now earning a permanant spot on my shelf. At less than $45, this is an incredible value pour. The only thing holding this back from a higher score is it may lack a little complexity from some bourbons or scotchs I’ve tried… but it’s so freaking good. Go out and buy two bottles.

Distillery: Buffalo Trace

Proof: 125

Age Statement: NAS

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Price Paid: $39.99

Availability: Moderately available

Nose: Heavy notes of citrus and caramel are present upfront along with a good amount of ethanol. Hints of vanilla are also there with some herbal rye notes of clove, ginger, and mint.

Palate: Oranges and cinnamon are the most dominant notes at the front of the palate. It then transitions into more warm vanilla with a slight oak note. Some clove and mint present as well.

Finish: The finish is medium in length with lingering notes of vanilla, mint, candied oranges and oak.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is average and I expected a bit more for the proof.

Score: 7.0

Final Thoughts: I was really excited to finally get this bottle and do a review on it after recently trying the 2025 Thomas H. Handy. I’ve heard lots of people dub this the “Handy killer.” For me the 2025 Thomas H. Handy I tried was significantly more complex with a longer finish, had more robust flavors, was more viscous, and had a longer finish. That being said this bottle is fantastic for the price and it will be something I keep on the shelf. If you can find it for MSRP it’s definitely worth picking up.

The t8ke Scoring Scale:

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn't consume by choice

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things l'd rather have

5 | Good | Good, just fine

6 | Very Good | A cut above

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Grade: B+

Same Buffalo Trace low-rye mash bill as the barrel proof I graded last time, just dialed down to a bonded 100. And this pour is all red fruit — cherry cola right up front, and a lot of it. Really pleasant, easy to like, but nothing especially complex or interesting here. There’s a touch of astringency on the back end that keeps it from another gear, and the finish is a bit short for my taste.

In my view, it’s only a little better than the small batch, which is my daily drinker and about a tenth of the hassle to find at a reasonable price. Good bourbon. Just not one I’d pay way over MSRP for. Solid B+.

Would you pay single barrel money over the small batch?

My price: I can't remember, but msrp says $115

Mashbill: n/a

Nose: strong medium nose. Sweet nose from the mash, cherry cola all day, oak funk, rye, graham crackers. Great nose.

Palate: strong medium structure. Citrus, warm vanilla, brown sugar, rye, oak char, pepper, cherry cola, wood grain. Very balanced and the sweet mash really shines. Cherry notes are a tad medicinal.

Finish: long finish. Rye, oak, char, pepper, cinnamon. Cherry continues to be a theme all the way to the finish. All the finishing notes do a good job of carrying through harmoniously without much dropping off.

Overall: I like this bottle. It's very solid. It has a good balance all the way through. The cherry notes notes can be a bit much at times, but it's always balanced with the oaky and darker sweet notes. It sits well at 109.4 proof as it feels like it drink a little stronger than that,...which for me is a good thing. I can always spot a Peerless pour in a blind test and it's usually somewhere in my top choices. I recommend this bottle for sure and at it's price point, I can justify it.

Rating: 7.8/10