Bull Run American Whiskey 12 Year Pinot Noir Finish

Served neat. From the neck pour. About two months ago, I got a Bull Run Cab finished by Nasa Liquors called “Mars Attack!” The coolest bottle, it looks like one of the hologram cards I collected as a kid. This is the next in the series – this time finished in Pinot and called “Earth Fights Back.” The initial pour of the Cab didn’t wow me, but I couldn’t resist this one just for the sticker. It’s a cool sticker, don’t judge. One thing I realized since the last tasting is that this is 12-year MGP aged in used barrels. So, that’s good background information. Okay, right from the nose, this is striking me better than the Cab. The wine influence is significant but balanced. It strikes me more as a dessert wine because of the immense sweetness surrounding everything. I'm getting many characteristics of creme brûlée from this. Not just the burnt caramel, but the vanilla pudding underneath and even some raspberry jam on top. It’s interesting how bright the nose is. I was expecting darker notes. Mmm, nice and creamy. I feel like the last couple of whiskies I tried were a bit thin. It’s nice to enjoy the thick coating mouthfeel here. A flavor explosion right from the start, overwhelmed with grape and sweetness. It transitions directly into the creme brûlée experience with the charred caramel and vanilla pudding. I’ll even add the little waffle cookie to complete the dish. Then the finish caps it off with the wine, like I’m washing the dessert down. Wow, this is great! I will have to revisit the Cab finished one now. Right off the bat, I like the Pinot finished one better. This is a great finished whiskey because the finishing perfectly complements the whiskey. It takes you on a wonderful, complete journey. Well done NASA and Bullrun.

I'm drinking this neat. Alright, so I purchased this bottle last year before I had much knowledge about bourbon producers and collector bottles, and I pretty much dismissed it immediately. It was an impulse buy at the time, but little did I know a year later what was sitting on my shelf. When I realized I had 12-year MGP, I was quite excited to try it again! But unfortunately, while my knowledge has grown, my palate hasn't changed. The finish in Pinot Noir barrels had an effect on the 12-year, but I'll do my best to describe it. You get the expected caramel, vanilla, and oak from MGP, but the oak is overpowering. The finish is less robust than anticipated, but a nice tobacco note is a saving grace. What I'm not overly fond of is the oak, and there's an artificial flavor that resembles fungus, which doesn't quite align with the profile described earlier. It might be more of a personal preference. Is it a result of the finish? Most likely. It was an enjoyable purchase and an even better story when my Cousin saw this on my shelf. I told him I'd save the rest for him.

Nose is MGP, and oak, definitely smell the age, then comes the Pinot. Taste is more oak, baking spice, tobacco, and dry Pinot. The finish is where the Pinot lingers the most. I preferred it when I just got a hint on the nose and early when drinking. Still pretty good and definitely interesting.

As soon as this hits the tip of your tongue, you get a nice sweet hit of the Pinot Noir. Then you move into the oak, caramel, and vanilla notes. The finish is long and the bite is fantastic at 123.10 proof. Very glad I picked this up before it became impossible to find.

The wine cask imparts prominent berry notes, creating a strong finish. A dash of water is needed to mellow the alcohol's intensity and allow the flavors to emerge. It took some effort to appreciate this one.

Smell: toffee, butterscotch, light to mild smoke, peanuts, earl gray tea Taste: Cherry, vanilla, hints of honey and herb