Blood Oath Bourbon Pact No. 6

Nose: Sweet, yet reserved. Somewhat musty, but not unpleasantly so. Hints of caramel and fruit (prominently orange, with a touch of cherry and a whisper of lemon), plus some dry spice and minerals from the mustiness. I detect a dry, slightly floral, herbal scent that suggests rye. It’s complex, but not overpoweringly bold. It brings Corsair Grainiac to mind in that respect, but sweeter and with more focus on carefully combining different barrels rather than using various grains. Between the two, this has a bolder aroma. Palate: Very balanced with good complexity. It starts dry with mineral notes, then the wood and mustiness roll in before being replaced by sweet fruit and caramel with sweet spices (primarily cinnamon, with a faint hint of nutmeg), which then give way to a dry herbal spice towards the finish. There's a trace of smoke mid-palate, but it's far from dominant. The wood tastes mature but not overly strong, similar to Russell's Reserve 10. These flavors are less vibrant than those in Corsair Grainiac. This definitely tastes more aged and refined with a more traditional (though still enjoyable) profile, lacking the same punchy complexity or fullness. Upon closer inspection, subtle flavors emerge. Its understated character strongly resembles a well-oxidized bottle of Russell's Reserve 10. I appreciate the core Wild Turkey character in Russell's Reserve, but the complexity here is greater, and the interesting fruity notes (likely from a cognac cask) significantly enhance it. It has a touch of Blanton's smoothness, but is certainly more complex (and arguably more balanced). Finish: The finish is quite dry, with hints of fruit and caramel, but it's mainly a clean rye with a touch of floral or mineral and a bit of wood. This is the least impressive aspect by far. Conclusion: This is truly excellent stuff! Among the best bourbons available. It feels low proof (around 45% or less), but it's not actually that low. It has a higher proof than Corsair Grainiac, yet is less full-bodied and has less presence. This is somewhat unusual and detracts from the bourbon, but it's still quite superb. The richness largely compensates for the underwhelming fullness, though this richness is only in comparison to Corsair Grainiac, which isn't saying much. Between the two, I would choose Corsair. However, I would readily choose this over Blanton's. Comparing it further, I believe this might be slightly better than Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8. I rated the Wild Turkey a solid 18 and sometimes 19. Corsair is a 21 to 22. Therefore, this will be a 19 or 20. I'm settling on 19 because I feel this is closer in quality to the Wild Turkey than to the Corsair, but I could definitely see myself upgrading it to a 20. Thanks to a friend for the sample!

Sometimes you get lucky and stumble upon something great. While at a liquor store picking up another bottle, I noticed this 2020 release in a unique box and decided to grab it. I had set it aside and only recently opened it. Now, after having a bit, let's see what's inside. The aroma leads with cinnamon pastries, hints of cherry and orange zest, grape residue, and cloves, followed by a subtle cognac presence, dark chocolate-covered raisins, and dusty wood. It finishes with buttery caramel popcorn and almost no ethanol scent. On the palate, the mouthfeel is medium-thin. It begins with a light caramel coating over cinnamon pastries, then moves to cherry, orange zest, and grape residue, with some clove spice. This is followed by mild cognac notes, dark chocolate-covered raisins, and barrel spices from dusty wood with a faint ethanol burn. The finish is moderately long, bringing back cinnamon pastries covered in caramel, then cherry, orange zest, and grape residue. This leads to those cognac notes, dark chocolate-covered raisins, and barrel spices from dusty wood, with a final hint of buttery caramel popcorn that lasts for a few minutes after each sip. Overall, I find this to be an excellent sipper, though I do wish it had a higher proof. It seems the blender created something outstanding, near perfection, after considerable effort. Then, marketing stepped in, tasted it, deemed it a fantastic bourbon, checked the proof, diluted it significantly to meet a body temperature-like requirement, bottled it, and shipped it out. The mouthfeel is quite thin, making it challenging to discern individual notes. As a test, I diluted my own bourbon from 112.8 proof down to 98.6 and experienced a similar muting of flavors. I hope the distillery will eventually offer cask strength versions or special higher-proof releases alongside their standard bottling. If this had been cask strength, it would have easily earned a top score, but the dilution brought it down to a 3.5 for me.

Nose: It's immediately noticeable. Abundant light brown sugar, oak, and vanilla are present, harmonized by the cognac barrel influence. Notes of Connecticut cigar tobacco, chocolate-covered almonds, and orange zest. Classic baking spices like potent cinnamon (not the common cassia type), nutmeg, clove, and anise. There's also a hint of fennel, giving a slightly herbal quality. Dusty leather and charred wood are also detected, alongside red grapes, raspberries, blackberries, and Luxardo maraschino cherries. Truly delightful. Palate: All the expected brown sugar, vanilla, and dry, tannic oak are here. A pleasant interplay of thyme and mint occurs, with basil underneath. As noted, there's a nice tannic structure, accompanied by subtle bitterness and char. Dusty leather, cigar tobacco (more like maduro now), and cocoa are also present. That grape flavor persists, along with some bright lemon/lime characteristics. Ripe dark fruits and berries are evident. Perhaps a faint maple note emerges at the very end. Blood orange also comes to mind. It's incredibly rich and complex, yet well-integrated. It emphasizes the upper palate, while the middle and lower areas are evenly balanced. Finish: Sweet vanilla and charred oak intensify, followed closely by mint and berries. This excellent tannin, ethanol vibrancy, and grape character then appear. It fades with notes of cream, leather, cocoa, vanilla, and mint. A slight hint of pipe tobacco ash lingers at the very end. The finish is medium-long; despite the relatively low oil content, it has good staying power. Additional thoughts: This is outstanding. While it's not the heavy, high-proof bourbon I usually prefer, its depth and complexity make it wonderful. The cognac finish truly ties everything together cohesively while introducing complementary flavors that pair exceptionally well. The only minor drawback is the slightly lighter mouthfeel than I prefer, though stylistically, it might not need to be heavier. I strongly recommend acquiring a bottle if possible. I might even look for a second one if I finish this quickly.

Interestingly, I wasn't overly impressed with Pact 5. It wasn't bad, but it certainly didn't meet the elevated expectations I had for my first Blood Oath release. Thankfully, I came across some very favorable reviews for this one, so I'm approaching it with an open mind. Nose: Sweet vanilla and caramel. Notes of cinnamon, apple (reminiscent of Applejack cereal), honey, and toffee. Subtle hints of plum and leather. The sweetness of cotton candy and jelly. Milk chocolate and walnut. A touch of dill and rye spice. It's somewhat light but very pleasant and distinctive. Palate: While the nose offered a soft and somewhat undefined whiskey character, the palate immediately announces this as a bourbon with considerable power. Dusty corn, caramel, and vanilla make a strong impact. Notes of apple, plum, raisin, and leather. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Salted almonds. A cooling menthol sensation. Orange peel, charred wood, and oak. Finish: Tastes like Applejack cereal. Milk chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, and raisin. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, dill, and oak spice. The finish is long. The aforementioned spice notes persist for a considerable time. Quite enjoyable. It's a well-balanced whiskey. The nose is delicate yet complex. The palate and finish are robust, truly embodying high-proof bourbon. The Cognac barrels significantly influenced the nose, and while the palate and finish leaned towards bourbon characteristics, the Cognac barrels still left a discernible mark. 4.25 rating. A definite improvement over the previous iteration. The Cognac barrels complement the grain used by Lux Row effectively. In fact, this makes me want to re-evaluate what I have left of the Rum cask edition 5. Regardless, this one performs admirably. I'm discovering it late, but if you happen to enjoy the Blood Oath line, acquire this if you encounter it. And if you appreciate bourbon aged in wine barrels, give this a try – while not wine barrel-aged, its integration is superior and delivers a comparable experience. Truly excellent spirit.

Sampled blind. Appears golden amber with fast teardrop legs. Notes of fruit, soft grain, and young oak. It evokes profiles of 4R and BT. Hints of apricot, pecan, and dried fruits. Subtle light brown tobacco and vanilla. Rye bread and tea. Medium to thin on the palate with a burst of mild heat, fruit, and vanilla, followed by a slow fade to oak, rye, and tea notes. No major surprises. I'm questioning if this might be an EHT single barrel due to the subtle tobacco notes. It also brings to mind Elmer T. Lee with a bit more oak and BT mashbill #2's fruity characteristics. The finish is short, with vanilla, fruit, and light brown tobacco. So, I'm unsure of its identity, but four out of five EHT enthusiasts would appreciate this. It also strongly resembles a Murray Hill Club batch, but we're getting into specifics now. It could also be a Hancock or a modified Bowman brothers (BT distillate). My guess is BT mashbill 1 1/2 (or perhaps 1 3/4). Reveal: Blood Oath Pact 6 Well, I can now see how the cognac barrels really brought out the stone fruit in this. The rye still manages to make its presence known, and the oak plays a significant part. Overall, it seems well-executed but not particularly exciting, much like Buffalo Trace. I will say this: the $100 price point offers better value than Elmer T. Lee on the secondary market. However, if you can acquire an EHT small batch or Blanton's at their respective MSRPs of $40-65, those would be preferable options. Thanks to a friend for sharing this one with me!

Nose - Brown sugar candy, creamy vanilla, baked apple, cool mint, warming cinnamon, pungent nutmeg, sweet anise, earthy tobacco, sharp clove, black pepper, bright orange zest, smooth milk chocolate, sweet marshmallow, nutty walnut, robust oak, with a noticeable alcohol burn. Taste - Sweet caramel, vanilla bean, potent clove, warm allspice, fiery chili pepper, rich cocoa, refreshing mint, licorice-like anise, sweet raisin, drying tannic oak, zesty ginger, delicate floral notes, aged leather, tobacco leaf, a noticeable alcohol bite, concluding with a medium length finish featuring caramel, orange zest, raisin, and baking spice flavors. This marks my initial encounter with the Blood Oath series. I'm uncertain of what to anticipate. Knowing the considerable expense, my hopes are quite high. The aroma is rich and spicy. Typical bourbon characteristics are present alongside a double measure of clove, mint, and anise, undoubtedly from the substantial rye content. The influence of cognac becomes more apparent on the palate, bringing some jammy raisin and floral qualities. Otherwise, it maintains a similar richness and spice, with strong baking spices dominating the finish, accompanied by caramel and a citrusy sharpness. In summary, this is a delicious bourbon. It possesses significant richness but actually presents as younger than its actual age. I suspect the rye spice and citrus are misleading me into perceiving it as bright. The dilution might also be a factor. I concur with others that it seems somewhat underproofed. I would estimate that this is likely not worth the price of a bottle, but it remains a satisfying drink. Many thanks to a friend for the sample!