Boondocks 8 Year Port Finished Bourbon

This represents the port-finished portion of my bourbon competition. It's a blind tasting pitting Boondocks against Breckenridge. The winner will advance to face Isaac Bowman, which previously triumphed over the original barrel finisher, Angel's Envy. My assessment of Boondocks: The aroma is quite fruity, with notes of cherry, grape, and caramel, reminiscent of sangria. It's exceptionally pleasing. This is where things begin to falter slightly. There's not much more to convey about this whiskey. It possesses the character of a very well-crafted port. The finish is subtle, with minimal burn and a distinct port profile. If presented with this and told it was port, one might easily be convinced, only to be bewildered by the rapid onset of intoxication. Even distinguishing between the body and finish is challenging, but if forced, I'd identify vanilla as more prominent in the body and a hint of brown sugar emerging in the finish. The initial aromas are the highlight, and discerning the underlying whiskey proved difficult. This is intriguing considering it's an 8-year-old bourbon. I'd anticipate it having enough distinct character that a port finish would enhance it, rather than fundamentally alter its identity, yet here we are. At 8 years, either the port's deliciousness overwhelmed the base spirit, or the distiller achieved a masterful port integration at the expense of the bourbon's inherent qualities. The closest analogy I can offer: it's akin to slathering bread with a delectable cheese and then attempting to critique the bread itself. Nevertheless, I appreciate the execution, as I'm fond of both sangria and port. It's a genuinely enjoyable beverage, and considering I acquired a 375mL bottle for $20 from an online California retailer, I would readily purchase it locally if available. It might even retail for around $15. Are there more intricate port-finished bourbons? Certainly. But this is a worthy addition to that category from Boondocks. However, in this blind comparison, Breckenridge emerges victorious. Both are excellent, but Breckenridge offers more intrigue. I anticipate comparing Breckenridge against Isaac Bowman soon. Revisiting this against Angel's Envy (a sort of consolation match), Angel's Envy proves superior. If Boondocks typically sells for $15-20 for a 375mL, it has a market niche. If priced at $40 for a 750mL, I would not repurchase it. It's worth sampling and buying at $15-20, but as the last place finisher in this port-finished contest, it's not worth $40.

Nose: Sweet, sugar, almost candy and wine. Very soft. A touch of cinnamon and cherry and even a little orange zest. When I put my nose all the way in I get a lot of cinnamon, almost all cinnamon. There is almost no alcohol burn to the nose. Maybe I am too used to barrel proof. Mouth feel: Not oily, almost drying (typically hate that). Soft and light with almost no burn, (comparable to coke). Tingles the tongue, almost dances. Tannins are there and drying but not bad. The orange and then cinnamon take over quickly on the finish. Taste: Like the nose, sweet and sugar, between white and brown. Some caramel but not as much as most bourbons. Dark cherry, not maraschino (sweet but with a bitter kick). Raisins (sun-maid- the thick sugar). The orange zest and cinnamon show in the finish. The finish and mouth feel are also fairly long and enjoyable. My conclusion: This is like having an old-fashion in a bottle! Out of my near 100 tastings it is in my top 3. It held up to a cigar. It is an easy sipper neat. This can be a daily sipper watching TV or for a special event. I need to try it with ice. Hang on… Still tasted good but the subtle flavors were gone and you were left with a colder but good tasting bourbon. I wrote this and then saw that it had mixed reviews. Everyone is different I guess. I have had polarizing bourbons before and can normally tell why. For me, this didn’t fit in that category. Price??? It was worth it to me. I have never purchased the same bottle twice and this could be my first. Edit: From what I remember it has similarities to Blood Oath 5 mainly the orange zest.

Aroma: Vanilla, Luxardo cherries, molasses, oak. Well balanced from start to finish. Hints of raw flour and cream. Faint wisps of char. Notes of bananas, apricots, persimmons, plums. Baked pears with cinnamon and a tiny pinch of nutmeg. Dusty corn is present but subtle. Palate: Vanilla, oak, molasses, and port cask – the port is prominent, offering more of that syrupy Luxardo cherry sweetness. Apricots, persimmons, and pears come through, with a touch of hot cinnamon now. Tannins and barrel bitterness join in. The finish begins with plums and caramel apples alongside baking spices. There's certainly some rye in this mash bill – I'm getting notes of dried basil, thyme, and dill as the richer flavors slowly fade. The very end leaves a slight bitterness with vanilla bean ice cream, figs, and a subtle nuttiness. Other thoughts: I've always enjoyed this. It's not flawless, of course – I'd personally prefer a longer initial maturation and perhaps slightly more char on the barrels, but what's presented here is quite good. It also demonstrates that lower proof isn't necessarily a negative. While this might be intriguing at a higher proof, I doubt I could drink more than a glass or two. It might not be a permanent fixture on my bar, but it's an enjoyable one to revisit occasionally.

Day 3 of my bourbon advent calendar, and I'm looking forward to this one. Nose: Creamy banana, molasses, and freshly baked vanilla cupcakes. Palate: Oak is prominent initially, then leads into a burst of vanilla, butterscotch, and chocolate-covered cherries. The bourbon's aroma is divine, and I must admit I got carried away while smelling this one. Angel's Envy couldn't compare to this bourbon. It's such a full-flavored and sweeter whiskey that you can offer anyone for a nightcap, and I believe they'll adore it!

As I'm nearing the end of this bottle, I decided it was time for a brief review. It goes down smoothly and is pleasant to sip, but for me, the palate is a bit one-dimensional. I primarily detect a very sweet, caramel corn flavor, and that's essentially it. The taste lingers, and I expected a more developed finish, but it remains just that sweet corn. While it tastes quite good, it's unfortunately a bit disappointing for a $50 bottle. I would not purchase it again at its full retail price.

4.0 Stars - Excellent; 750 ml bottle A delightful find! This was an unplanned purchase based on a recommendation from a shopkeeper in Kentucky. No online research or reviews, just a personal conversation. This rivals or surpasses similar offerings like Angels Envy or Amador. I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle from beginning to end.