Bull Run Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Strength

The aroma is not harsh at all. It concerningly presents a light bubblegum scent, suggesting it's young and likely poor. Indeed, it strongly smells of bubblegum. Hints of strawberry and sweet raspberry emerge, alongside a trace of damp (but not moldy) cardboard. It has the scent of a well-made young whiskey, but successfully crafting young whiskey doesn't make it a pleasant drink. There's also a slightly herbal, intriguing element, plus some artificial syrupy caramel. The palate feels light, except for the alcohol content. Thankfully, the underlying grain in this whiskey is quite good, lending a nice richness that gives the proof more body and depth, masking the undeniably light and disconnected flavors beneath. Not much is happening here, but it's not terrible. It's somewhat interesting for a young whiskey and avoids any repulsive flavors overwhelming it (aside from its youth, of course). It lacks chalkiness, which is an improvement over another whiskey. For better or worse, this is extremely mild. Some pleasant barrel spice comes through, but the richness of the barrel does not. There's abundant cinnamon, then the touch of bubblegum, plenty of vanilla, and surprisingly, a light caramel with a mild blend of butterscotch. The finish is fruitier than bubblegum, but it's still a light fruitiness, like the first taste of a lollipop. Adding water reveals more herbal notes, making it more complex and engaging. It still has some characteristic youthful flaws, but it's somewhat interesting in a way that suits a young whiskey. That, combined with the barrel proof, saves this spirit. The cedar note that appears with added water is refreshing and captivating. Much like another spirit, I can imagine growing to appreciate this. Nevertheless, it's largely a novelty and far from exceptional. If it were inexpensive, it would be an interesting bottle to own. If I were seeking a mild whiskey for some reason, I would give this serious thought. At less than barrel strength, I won't be eager to try more. Yes, that high proof corn flavor is good. The aging needs improvement, but the flavors aren't actively bad, and the distillery didn't try to mask the youth with a cocktail of unpleasant additives. True, it's masked by the alcohol content, but that's a natural flavor that's easy to appreciate when the grain is good. That complexity genuinely comes through a bit. That youthful alcohol presence does too, so, meh. It's not a complete disaster, though. This might be a 12, damn it. I'll tentatively give it that, but it could drop to an 11 later. It's not entirely bad, but it's really not what I seek in bourbon. Considering another bourbon incorporated some light whiskey, I'd be curious to see this in a blend. Bubblegum be damned, it can earn that 12! I might even raise it to a 13 in the future, but with its youth, it will never be excellent.

Batch 25 Nose: very light, faint red apples. Not much else is detectable. Taste: vanilla and much improved spice compared to the straight version. It rounds out nicely on the sides, and the spice is present upfront. The spice doesn't last long but is more pronounced than in the straight version. It has potential for improvement but lacks complexity. Overall: I love this and would choose it a hundred times over the straight bourbon. The flavor profile is decidedly not sweet, but rather smoky, which is something to keep in mind for anyone considering trying these.

Release date 9/17 Batch 17 113.7 proof Dominant citrus notes; distilled in Indiana. While I typically appreciate high rye bourbon, this bottle lacks balance for me.

Selected by Alexandria Barrels. Notes of oak, vanilla, butterscotch, leather, and mint. Quite smooth and well-balanced.

Good bourbon that comes from MGP.

A hint of apples.