Boone County 7 Year Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon

During a trip to Florida, four of us sampled four high-proof wheated bourbons: Lanceny barrel proof batches A120 and B520, both ranked in the bottom third; Maker's Mark barrel stave program with 6 French mocha staves at 109 proof, ranked in the top third; and Boone County 7yr SiB at 121 proof, also in the top third. It was a very competitive field with closely matched scores. We all enjoyed sharing our thoughts. One person would say, "I detect ---," and the responses ranged from "Yeah, now that you mention it" to "No, not at all." No one was offended by any opinion. It was a great way to spend the afternoon with ribs smoking on the grill. This particular bourbon is very intense on the nose, but it has a lot of oaky caramel, which I love. The palate is true to the nose and it drinks smoother than its proof suggests. I find its intensity to be more like Balcones, not the subtle intensity of Stagg Jr or ECBP. As I try to get past the strong ethanol, a little water helps considerably. After 15 minutes of aeration, the intensity mellows, and it truly opens up. Rich butterscotch emerges, along with some citrus. The finish is predominantly butterscotch and very long, which I appreciate. This was my third favorite, though others ranked it lower. Showing my bias, I had hoped it would be my first choice. It hasn't been open long, so it might improve. Several days later, it remains very intense, but at around 105-110 proof, it's genuinely enjoyable.

This is a revisit from a bottle that was opened nine months ago. It comes from barrel BCW34 and is 121.7 proof. The previous tasting noted strong ethanol heat; this time it's less prominent, though still present. A complex nose centered on butterscotch, with an additional mango or peach note and some background baking spices. The interplay between them is excellent, and I must say I enjoy smelling this one. On the palate, I detect buttered caramel corn and a hint of tropical fruit with a bit of nutmeg. The heat from months ago has vanished. It truly saturates the mouth with flavor in a thick, satisfying way. I love the texture. It provides that signature warmth with a long finish of lightly charred marshmallow that truly lingers. I only have two servings left. Perhaps I will plan a trip up north.

I have batch 17 of the OHLQ pick, and it's phenomenal. Knowing its rarity and exclusivity, I don't mind paying $96 for it. It's the closest thing you'll find to WLW in this state. It's remarkable how little ethanol is on the palate for its proof. It's simply creamy and delicious. Or perhaps I'm just an alcoholic who enjoys all bourbon, haha. Update: Comparing it to WLW, as I mentioned before, this holds its own. With this one at 97 proof and WLW at 100 proof, you can almost taste the $3 difference if you really concentrate.

A top-notch pour. I've got barrel pick BWC025 from Ohio. The price keeps me from rating it higher than a 4; at $94, it's not a great deal. It should be priced closer to $60, but if you're seeking a fantastic-tasting wheated bourbon, this is a superb selection.

From the first barrel bottled at a lower proof. Smells like a cinnamon bun, apple fritter, and French toast. Delightful! Taste is more intricate than anticipated, with a good proof and sweet conclusion. Very smooth, enjoyable neat. It finishes like red hot candy. This barrel pick is fantastic!

Very oily and packed with flavor: remarkably smooth for such a high proof. Nose is caramel and butterscotch. Spice is the first taste detected. Light spearmint, vanilla, and sweet caramel then move across your tastebuds. A long, warm finish of lightly browned caramel.