Blood Oath Bourbon Pact No. 5

I'm a bit behind on this series, but glad to finally try it. This is my initial encounter with the Blood Oath lineup, specifically Pact No. 5. Let's find out if it lives up to the anticipation and cost, especially with the rum variant in this collection. Aroma: Typical bourbon scents of caramel, vanilla, cocoa, and brown sugar. Hints of orange citrus, pecan, and almond. A touch of molasses and sugar cane, though the rum's impact isn't dominant. Notes of warm apple pie and apricot. Also present are oak, nutmeg, and clove. Flavor: Brown sugar, cocoa, caramel, and vanilla are evident. Almond and walnut are also there. A taste of grilled pineapple. Still some molasses. Woody and sawdust notes. The nutmeg and clove are amplified, along with a strong black pepper flavor. A hint of dill. Dry and spicy oak. Finish: Starts with some caramel, vanilla, and a mint/milk chocolate taste. Then it's all cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, clove, and oak spice. A medium to long duration. Let's evaluate the score. The aroma is better than average. The flavors on the palate closely resemble the aroma. However, the way these flavors are presented feels disconnected and unexciting on the tongue. The finish compensates somewhat with a pleasant spicy kick, though, like the aroma, I can only describe it as better than average. The rum casks contribute very little to distinguish this bottling. It's a solid whiskey, no question. But I paid a full $100 for it. So, I'd struggle to recommend it at this price point. Particularly when a superior rum cask-aged bourbon like Jefferson's RC can be found for $30 less. Alternatively, there's the Old Ezra 7 BP, which I obtained for less than half of this price. It offers much better value and is simply a superior bourbon. The preceding two paragraphs were composed a couple of years ago. With each subsequent tasting, my enjoyment of this has increased, especially the palate. Consequently, I'm here with my final glass, revising my score and adding some new observations. Considering its rarity in May 2022 and how much its quality has improved with oxidation, I've decided to raise this from a 3.25 to a 4.25. The latter score represents how I would rate it in a scenario where I hadn't previously scored it a 3.25. It's a far more unified drink now, offering a very intriguing profile, the notes of which I've integrated into my tasting description as part of my revision. Since the bottle is now empty as of two minutes ago, 4.25 will be the final rating for what I consider a remarkable comeback.

Alright, I purchased this some time ago and have been letting it rest after a less-than-satisfying initial tasting. I poured about a third of an ounce approximately fifteen minutes ago, so let's see. Nose - It presents a fairly typical nose for a spirit in the middle age range – likely under 12 years, perhaps under 10, but definitely over 6. I know this is a blend of aged bourbons, but my memory fails me if I'm incorrect. I detect vanilla, caramel, a hint of dry, lightly toasted oak, and possibly some light fruity esters. I suspect these esters might be influenced by the rum, but they could also be found in a standard wheated bourbon. I'm not picking up much in the way of darker notes; even the oak is light and toasty. Taste - Sweet, creamy corn, vanilla, wood spice, pie crust, and some fruity notes. I think there might be a hint of jam, but I can't identify it. It's sweet, has a younger wood character, spicy wood, and is a bit hot. Finish - Spicy, slightly hot, lightly toasted oak, and that's about it. It cuts off abruptly, leaving only a lingering heat. Oh, wait, I spoke too soon; a touch of nutty notes is now emerging at the finish. This is a pleasant bourbon that offers a slightly different profile than my usual choices, mainly due to more spice, lighter notes, and the absence of the deeper, darker characteristics I'd expect from a spirit with some age. The rum casks didn't significantly stand out; while I believe they play a role, I can't identify any specific notes as a direct result of the secondary finishing. I'm curious to see how it evolves after another six months of being open. Considering all this, it drinks like a nice $40-50 bourbon. The price tag of over $100 in most places significantly impacts the enjoyment, and this will be slightly reflected in the score. Without considering price, I rated it 2.25, and I generally try not to let price overly influence my scores. The idea is that a score of 3 means it's worth buying if you like the style and the price is acceptable, with adjustments up or down accordingly. However, I do feel that certain qualities and flavors should be present at higher price points, and this bourbon tastes like a younger, less expensive bottle. Therefore, I'm lowering the score to a 2. Wow, that nutty note at the end really came out of nowhere. Without it, I might have dropped into the 1s, but it truly made this an enjoyable pour.

AND WHAT BE A PIRATE’S FAVORITE CRIME? Okay. I think I understand now. Is it ARRRRRRRRSON? A certain pirate stands up calmly, walks over toward his wiser but far-less-well-endowed companion, removes his wooden leg, and strikes him on the head with it. A TRUE BOURBON-LOVIN PIRATE WOULD NEVER RISK SETTING ANYTHING ON FIRE. There could be bourbon in there. IT BE LARRRRRRRRRCENY. This represents the rum barrel finished category in my finished bourbon comparison. Tonight is the final tasting for the best rum finish. Borough (which defeated Dovetail) versus Blood Oath Pact 5 (which defeated Jefferson’s). When compared side-by-side, these are both excellent bourbons. The aromas were of equal quality in my estimation. Very different, but very good. While outstanding, the mid-palate for Blood Oath Pact 5 fell short for me. Conversely, the finish for Blood Oath Pact 5 was exceptional. Overall enjoyment tilted the tie in favor of Borough. Next blind tasting will be in the red wine cask finished category. Really looking forward to exploring that whiskey segment. The taste of Blood Oath Pact 5: This aroma reminds me of many aged bourbons. I detect a sour mustiness, lemon, and earthy scents. That oak left a distinct impression, similar to its presence in certain other bourbons. The overall impression is sour lemon. The palate delivers on the citrus, but it's more of an orange note now. You can perceive a leathery grain, but it's not the primary flavor. There's also honey, sugar, and significant oak. The finish for this one is truly remarkable. Depending on how I inhale, I can detect chocolate, coconut, marshmallow, or vanilla. It's definitely a dessert-like finish, and it's expertly crafted. It requires considerable focus to appreciate this one. It's so saturated with oak, it may be inaccessible to some. If I take a sip while distracted, I perceive only oak and brine. One must truly concentrate to get past those elements, but when you do, you are rewarded. I suspect if you sample this after a very old bourbon or another comparable heavily oaked spirit, the flavors would be even more discernible.

The aroma is quite herbaceous with some understated licorice and distinct grassy notes. There's a scent of herbal spice and certainly some barrel influence. The faintest hint of red fruit makes it to the nose, but it's negligibly minor. It evokes thoughts of a certain high-proof rye more than I would personally prefer in its scent. The palate has some spice for sure, but it's less intense than anticipated. The alcohol content makes its presence known, but it doesn't overpower. Some rich chocolate and toffee notes persist, though they take a moment to emerge. Those rum barrels contribute a nice complexity. There are pleasant variations of sweet and rich characteristics that meld together quite harmoniously. It leans towards the enjoyable side compared to other bourbons due to the rum, but the balance is solid and the strength is evident. This exhibits a distinctive bourbon-rum equilibrium that I quite appreciate. The overall flavor profile seems a bit youthful, but not in an unpleasant manner – more akin to how a certain well-known bourbon tastes with adequate water added. Vanilla and brown sugar appear but they harmonize well with the wood. Some spiced notes come through that integrate nicely, but they don't overtly taste of rum. This might be slightly lighter than I typically prefer, but it's engaging and intricate, bringing to mind certain other whiskies (though tasting entirely different). I do wish the wood expressed itself as more mature, but the flavors are quite pleasing. It surpasses a standard bottling, but is the price difference truly justified? It's certainly interesting and palatable. The wheat and rye components do come through here, making it taste considerably younger than its stated age.

I recently visited the Lower East Side of Manhattan for a long weekend. This neighborhood is home to some of the finest whiskey establishments in the city, and my initial destination was Copper & Oak. Copper & Oak is a small venue, accommodating no more than a dozen patrons at a time. It offers a setting for guests to sit and carefully savor their spirits, primarily whiskey, but also rum and mezcal. My current enthusiasm is for American blends, so I began with the Blood Oath Pact 5, which marked my first tasting from the Blood Oath series. Pact 5 is a combination of a wheated bourbon with two high-rye bourbons, one of which is finished in rum casks. It possesses some sweet characteristics from the rum-finished rye bourbon and the wheated whiskey. However, I found it to be predominantly dominated by rye. While I've enjoyed several high-rye bourbons, they're not typically my top choices. Those who aren't fond of rye shouldn't expect the wheated bourbon addition and rum finish to completely alter its character – it remains a high-rye bourbon at its core. For rye enthusiasts, however, the wheat and rum components will likely be much more noticeable. I was pleased to have the chance to sample Pact 5. It's an uncommon creation, and at $100-150 per bottle, it's not something I would purchase impulsively (unlike the $26 bottle of Pike Creek I recently acquired). The whiskeys incorporated into Pact 5 seemed well-aged, and I found it to be an easy drink. Although it didn't perfectly suit my preferences, I'm sufficiently impressed and will pay attention to future Blood Oath releases.

Aroma: banana, prominent red apple, powdered sugar, bourbon and rum caramel, faint pear / citrus Taste: The high rye content is very noticeable with some black pepper and baking spices, including cardamom, upfront. A slight hint of dill pickles. A very crisp, light finish with minimal burn. It's clearly well-blended for what it is. One component might be sourced from Dickel, as I detect a charcoal sour note that could also be from the rum influence. However, it doesn't linger on the palate. The oak is quite pronounced if you hold it in your mouth long enough. Adding water transforms the aroma into very sweet powdered sugar-dusted apples with caramel sauce. The taste incorporates the oak into the flavor, but it's integrated nicely. It becomes strongly almost soapy and dry towards the end, but what can you expect from nearly 15-year-old barrels. The summary is that this is a masterpiece of blending, but the individual components might not be of the highest quality or blend perfectly. It's definitely worth around $80 - $100 for a bottle or $30 for a pour if you can appreciate it.