1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon 8 Year

Appearance: Dark orange, with slight alcohol legs, and translucent. Nose: Quite sweet smells, with a blend of some baking spices. I'd call it fruit-forward. Palate: Cinnamon and black pepper initially, with underlying sweetness and caramel in the mid-palate, leading to a more spice-focused finish. Finish: Dry, and rather hot. I detect a bready note in the finish, along with plenty of spice. Later on, some grape skin emerges. Overall: A pretty good bourbon, relatively uncomplicated, but easy to drink. A bit of heat, but maybe that's due to not having had whiskey in a while.

Color: Glazed donut Texture: Smooth, creamy yet thin Legs: short/medium legs, lower proof Nose: Honey, fried apples and stone fruit, especially cherry. A hint of baking spice. Palate: Almost no alcohol. Caramel, cherry, vanilla that rapidly gives way to oak-spiced heavy whipping cream. Finish: The finish is medium in length, moving quickly from fruit to cream then oak before fading. Overall Impression: I liked this overall. Easy to drink with enough complexity to remain engaging. Rating: 5.5

Excellent bourbon for the price. I've used the 8-year in two different blind bourbon tastings, pitting it against bourbons far more expensive (including Weller 12-year and Old Rip Van Winkle 10), and it's placed in the top-two both times. An easy win for the cost. This isn't my preferred sipping whiskey, but it's a real crowd-pleaser if you can find it.

Smoke, spice, and pepper notes are softened by rich, oily undertones that emerge and persist through the extended finish. The fullness from a higher rye count is remarkable. In my opinion, this is an excellent mid-tier bourbon that's easy to find. It definitely delivers on charred barrel taste if that's your preference. I enjoy it with Topo Chico and ice.

Nose: Sugary rye, clove, and dried grapes. Taste: Initially light, it quickly transitions to a sharper, peppery flavor with a tingling warmth. Finish: It lasts quite a while with subtle notes of clove and oak. Verdict: Possesses a strong character and is an enjoyable experience. I'm pleasantly surprised for a bourbon.

Five stars for the large bottle, four stars for the smaller one, with a 20% chance the cork will fail. The marketing from January 2016 seems to involve withholding the large size, slightly reducing the quality of the more readily available smaller size, and increasing the price of small bottles by about 30%.