Ascendant Spirits Breaker Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Reserve

The label indicates distillation in Wyoming, suggesting it might no longer be an MGP product? I have my friend Nadine to thank for sharing this from California. It has a vibrant, bright copper color and clings to the glass with a few relatively slow-forming legs. The nose exhibits a lot of wheat and oak. There's some heat and sharp notes when you go too deep. It presents hints of cigar boxes, whole grain bread, baking spices, and a touch of ethanol. After considerable aeration, some caramel notes emerge. On the palate, it's soft and sweet initially, giving way to a pleasant warmth from the proof and spices. The wheat influence is noticeable again throughout. The barrel seems to impart less char and more fresh-cut oak compared to most. Notes include toasted coconut, pecan shells, a hint of leather, and cream. The medium-length finish offers additional notes: milk chocolate and burnt sugar, with a hint of vanilla blended with the baking spices. My overall impression is that it's just not quite fully developed yet; all the components are present, but the way it unfolds feels a bit unusual. In some respects, it was more reminiscent of a robust single malt than a bourbon. It's intriguing and tasty, but it lacks the harmony and cohesion of truly exceptional Bourbons.

Notes of vanilla and spice