Bomberger's Declaration (2018 Release)

Smell (out of 2): Wonderful. Tastes like cherry turnover, cinnamon sugar on toasted almonds, and strawberry jam. Molasses and a hint of banana. Floral and honey notes. Very warming. Score: 1.5. Taste (out of 4): Reminiscent of banana bread, capturing notes of banana, cinnamon, bread, and nuttiness. Also cherry, milk chocolate, and mint. Score: 3.0. Aftertaste (out of 1): Very woody and dry. A bit of banana (nice). Tastes like cherry cough syrup. The least enjoyable aspect of this drink. Score: 0.25. Cohesion/Complexity (out of 1): Very cohesive, maintaining a fruit-forward dessert profile throughout. Not overly complex, earning partial credit. Score: 0.75. Value (out of 2): Earns a score of 5.5 out of 8, indicating a pour that's well above average in value. Received as a complimentary sample from a friend, so the price was right. However, paying $150-$200 seems excessive given the bitter finish. The nose is great and the flavor is very solid, but the ending significantly prevents it from being outstanding. Overall: 6.0 out of 10. You're getting high-quality liquor, but justifying the price is difficult.

Opened the Bomberger’s Declaration last night. In case you aren’t familiar with the name, this is a special release by Michter’s to honor the legacy of their former distillery, which was known as Bomberger’s back in the 1800’s. The unique thing about this bourbon is that they age it in a special wood called Chinquapin for 3 years. On the nose, it is like walking into a candy store with lots of caramel notes and some fruit. The palate is interesting with a bit of dark chocolate and less burn than I would expect for something at 108%. The finish is substantial but doesn’t last too long. Overall, a solid and interesting bourbon.

Aroma resembles a wooded area. Rich caramel, burnt sugar topping, cracked black pepper, fresh dill, fir needles, and worn leather blend harmoniously against a forest-like base for this bourbon. Hints of vanilla and spicy cinnamon candies emerge on the tongue, followed by sweet corn confection, pine, tart cherry, and citrus. It's thirst-quenching with a satisfying conclusion and a robust texture. Ideal alcohol content. Quite pleased with the pair of Michter's Legacy bottles. This expression was more appealing to me than Shenk's.

Nose: Brown sugar, stone fruit Palate: Orange, butterscotch, vanilla, followed by warming spices Finish: Moderate to brief, the warming spices persist after, with a pleasant buttery texture Bomberger's Declaration is sweet enough to be enjoyed after a meal, yet robust enough to offer a complex flavor profile.

Received a 2oz sample from a friend. The aroma is boozy, with notes of vanilla, toffee, and nuts. It's very sweet and warming on the palate, finishing with heat but not excessively so. Contains a hint of sherry and fruit.

The aroma is honey on charred toast. The palate is sharp and intense but softens with each sip. The finish fades somewhat. Overall, it's very good, but I wouldn't go out of my way to acquire it again.