Bourbon Reviews

Delicate, sweet-toned, subtly complex. Rhododendron, date, graham cracker, pink peppercorn, maple syrup in aroma and cup. Bright, juicy, citrus-like acidity; lightly satiny mouthfeel. The gently drying finish consolidates around notes of date and graham cracker in the short, with suggestions of spicy floral tones (pink peppercorn) in the long.

Sweetly and richly enticing. Baker’s chocolate, Graham cracker, dried cranberry, orange blossom, fresh-cut cedar in aroma and cup. Crisp, balanced acidity; satiny mouthfeel. The richly drying finish consolidates to baker’s chocolate in the short finish, with aromatic wood notes resurfacing in the long.

Evaluated as espresso. Of three reviewers, Ken (93) was most supportive of this crisply chocolaty, silky-bodied espresso, citing its balanced range of baker’s chocolate, flowers and fruit. Jen Apodaca’s (92) descriptors overlapped Ken’s. For John DiRuocco (89), however, the sample was “a bit bipolar,” lacking coherence, although he praised the baker’s chocolate and pleasing mouthfeel. Everyone liked this one in three-parts milk, which help the chocolate sweeten and blossom.

Sweetly fruit-forward. Raspberry, baker’s chocolate, brandy, narcissus-like flowers, cashew in aroma and cup. Sweet-tart acidity; Smooth, lightly velvety mouthfeel. The richly drying finish consolidates to dried raspberry and brandy in the short, baker’s chocolate in the long.

Sweetly and richly pungent. Violet, peach, almond butter, baker’s chocolate, fresh-cut cedar in aroma and cup. Round, quietly tart acidity; Smooth, satiny mouthfeel. The rich, flavor-saturated short finish consolidates to violet and baker’s chocolate in the long.

Delicate, sweetly fruit-forward. Brandy, raspberry, honeysuckle, tangerine zest, roasted cacao nib in aroma and cup. Very tart acidity; billowy-smooth mouthfeel. The rich, resonant finish consolidates around cacoa nib and berry.

Delicately rich, subtly intricate. Violet-like flowers, pink peppercorn, almond butter, peach, myrrh in aroma and cup. Juicy, vibrant, balanced acidity; silky, buoyantly levitating mouthfeel. The crisply sweet, flavor-saturated finish is animated by spicy suggestions of myrrh and pink peppercorn.

Big, rich, deeply sweet. Raspberry, tamarind, lilac, butterscotch, a hint of rye whisky in aroma and cup. Sweetly brisk acidity; plump, syrupy mouthfeel. The rich, long, flavor-saturated finish resonates with tamarind, lilac and raspberry notes.

Sweetly and gently pungent, cocoa-toned. Roasted cacao-nib, orange, apricot, freesia-like flowers, a faint whiff of whisky in aroma and cup. Soft, vibrantly lively acidity; plush, velvety mouthfeel. Sweet, balanced, quietly flavor-saturated finish.

Balanced, sweet-toned, classic. Ripe raspberry and orange, citrus blossom, roasted cacao nib, a hint of sage in aroma and cup. Gently and richly nuanced acidity; round, cushiony mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates in a resonant finish.

Round, resonant. Dark chocolate, gently roasty oak, juicy blackberry, a hint of orange in aroma and cup. Crisp, roast-rounded acidity; full, syrupy mouthfeel. Blackberry, chocolate and oak carry into a rich though drying finish.

Tart, sweet, vibrant. Honey, orange, apricot, sweet flowers, a crisp hint of cinnamon bark in aroma and cup. Rich, gently tart acidity; plush mouthfeel. The cinnamon note intensifies in a quietly resonant finish.

Roundly bright, juicy, complex. Orange, mulberry, vanilla, honey, complex night-blooming flowers in aroma and cup. Giddy, buoyantly sweet acidity; plush mouthfeel. Flavor extends deep into a long finish.

Distinctly brandy-toned, sweet yet briskly pungent. Cleanly expressed brandy, strawberry-like fruit, dark chocolate, night-blooming flowers in aroma and cup. Round, gently vibrant acidity; lightly syrupy, very buoyant and lively mouthfeel. Rich, deep, profoundly flavor-saturated finish.

Soft, rich, deep. Complex floral-related notes (honeysuckle, rose, vanilla, peach) lead, particularly in the cup, with complicating hints of earthy, strawberry-like fruit and walnut. Pronounced but gentle acidity; plush, silky mouthfeel. Floral notes profoundly saturate a sweet-toned finish.

Rich, deep, sweet-savory. Caramel, fresh-cut fir, pineapple, pear, a hint of honeysuckle in aroma and cup. Crisp, pleasantly bittersweet acidity; plush mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates but persists in a very rich finish.

Deep, pungent, complexly chocolate-toned. Dark chocolate, hazelnut, apricot, hints of night-blooming flowers and black currant in aroma and cup. Tart, richly brisk acidity; syrupy, lively mouthfeel. Chocolate and flowers in particular carry into a richly drying finish.

Resonant and complex from aroma through finish: roasted cacao nib, vanilla, apricot, hazelnut. Crisply bittersweet acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. The long, deep, flavor-saturated finish is particularly impressive.

Complex, delicately distinctive. Rose-like flowers, sweet carob, malt, orangy citrus in aroma and cup. Rich, rather opulent acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Hints of citrus and malty carob carry into a sweet-toned though drying finish.

Sweet-toned, deep, balanced. Green apple, night-blooming flowers, hints of hazelnut and roasted cacao nib in aroma and cup. Gently bright, lively acidity; buoyant, silky mouthfeel. Hazelnut and apple carry into a sweet though richly drying finish.