Bib & Tucker 10 Year Small Batch Bourbon

I'm unfamiliar with the Bib and Tucker brand, but their bottles, with tinted glass and wooden corks, have always caught my eye. During a recent visit to Total Wine, I decided to purchase a 10-year bottle, though it might have been a gamble at just under $90. The aroma of this bourbon is indeed quite dry. I generally prefer intensely sweet bourbons, but perhaps this indicates a positive shift. The nose definitely carries notes of tannic oak and leather, along with orange peel and mint. The palate begins quite sweet and delicate, featuring brown sugar and lemon meringue. The tannic oak is less prominent here than on the nose, and all the flavors are softer and more rounded than the aroma suggested. A hint of spicy pepper and leather introduces some dryness mid-palate, along with dark cacao that is both sweet and slightly bitter, leaving the mouth feeling a bit dry and powdery leading into the finish. The finish is of medium length but not overly oily. That tannic oak is accompanied by hints of orange peel and baking spice. It's a well-balanced finish, and dare I say, it carries bolder and sharper flavors than the palate? You know what? This was a pleasant surprise. I'm not sure I'd spend another $90 on this bottle, but I'm certainly glad I tried it. The palate is surprisingly gentle considering the bolder nose and finish. However, it's a very well-balanced spirit to sip neat... I can enthusiastically recommend it.

A holiday gift to see if this bottle can alter my perception of Dickel. The aroma is moderately strong, quite fruity, with rum-soaked fruitcake, berries, light vanilla, and a noticeable mineral undertone. I struggled to discern much else. The ethanol presence is low. The palate reveals more caramel and vanilla than the nose suggested, alongside some date, fig, mandarin orange, and maple. All the flavors are sweet, uncomplicated, and somewhat dull. However, the palate itself isn't bad. A medium-length finish offers light cinnamon and nutmeg, and then... I dislike being unoriginal, but I must be honest; where I expected oak/wood on my tongue, I encountered something akin to Flintstone vitamins. Utterly perplexing. The mouthfeel is light-bodied, neither creamy nor grainy, which complements the flavor profile adequately. A positive aspect. Apparently, my friend paid $85 for this. Ouch. I wish he had informed me before purchasing, as I would have suggested he get a bottle of 1920 or Rare Breed and save $30. Or even a bottle of Wild Turkey 101, which I would have preferred more. This is strictly for devoted Dickel fans, a category I definitely do not belong to.

The basic B&T didn't wow me, though I've heard the 10-year is their best. Add a Liberty Torch bottle topper that collectors would want, and I'm sold. Honestly, calling someone a 'tater' says more about the speaker than the person they're labeling... but I'm getting off track. Let's give it a try. The aroma on this pour is really quite pleasant. A subtle peanut note is present, but wood and cocoa are more prominent. There's no noticeable alcohol, making it enjoyable to savor for a while before tasting. The initial taste is quite gentle. I detect some cocoa and perhaps a hint of scorched caramel. For the most part, this drink is just uninspired. The finish is a bit fiery, with a peppery heat that flares up and then fades. In conclusion, this, much like the 6-year, isn't really my thing. The flavor is mild and somewhat dull. It's certainly not something to be poured down the drain, but I wouldn't purchase it again. Considering the cost, it's a letdown, even with the neat bottle topper. I suggest exploring other options at this price point.

This is my second time trying it. I broke the seal on the bottle ten months ago; it was a gift and I recall its distinct character, unlike most standard bourbon tastes. However, this time I was entirely unimpressed and found it quite ordinary. That being said, it was still an enjoyable drink, just not remarkable. Update: Third tasting. A complete reversal here… it certainly has a unique flavor. The taste brings to mind a damp morning campfire. I'm still not thrilled with this one, though.

A strong, Tennessee sour mash bourbon from August Sebastianif, made by 3 Badge Beverages in Kentucky and aged for 10 years. It starts with an aroma of grain, wood, dried fruits, nuts, herbs & spices; its bold life adds notes of sweet roasted corn, dried pears, apple cider, vanilla & cocoa; leading to a long, warm & woody finish with notes of cracked pepper, toasted oak, rye, pipe tobacco, cedar, milk chocolate, cinnamon, chestnuts, burnt caramel & smoke. August / October 2024

The aroma is rich and potent, with a solid layer of oak providing support and presenting a complex scent profile that spans from sweet fruitiness to earthy and metallic notes. The palate offers even more complexity, featuring a broader range of fruity and dessert-like sweetness combined with earthier, more metallic undertones, all again presented on a robust foundation of oak. The finish diminishes the richness somewhat, but it remains a pleasant, sweet, and spicy fade.