Bulleit Bourbon Blenders' Select No. 001

Nose: High rye mash bill is apparent - a bit vegetal and herbaceous alongside star anise, nutmeg, and a hint of clove. Under-ripe orange peels. Bitter chocolate. Some brown sugar and vanilla, though these are less pronounced than typically found in most bourbons. Oak is present in a more "integrated" fashion than I often encounter with bourbons. Additionally, a classic dusty corn note emerges as the glass airs out. Palate: Bursts of orange, mint, bitter oak, and black pepper. The interplay between the vanilla sweetness and those baking spices is intriguing. More cinnamon on the palate than the nose suggested. The tannins offer a pleasant texture and bitterness that provides a nice contrast. Floral and more bitter citrus rinds. Salted caramel. The oak experience is similar here, and without that foundational layer, this might seem "top-heavy," but this aligns perfectly with the Bulleit character. Medium body. Finish: Oak and ethanol, with some char. All the baking spices and herbs from earlier. Cocoa, leather, and cedar gradually appear, and the conclusion is a medium-long equilibrium between orange, mint, chocolate, and wood. Additional thoughts: I'm typically not a fan of Bulleit. Apart from their barrel strength offering, I rarely find myself drawn to their products. While this falls comfortably within that general profile, I must admit: it's very well crafted. It's not the most incredibly intricate or rich spirit, but rather a fine demonstration of restraint and knowing when to deviate slightly. It's certainly bold, but not in the same way as, for example, Stagg Jr. or anything from Balcones. Its boldness lies more in its embrace of a somewhat less conventional flavor set while still remaining distinctly a bourbon. Commendable work. Considering this is batch one, I will likely at least sample subsequent batches. Perhaps I'll even seek out full bottles. If you enjoy Bulleit, I highly recommend this. And if you're not a fan, or haven't tried one of their uniquely shaped and labeled bottles in some time, give this one a shot. While it might not be in my top 10 whiskeys of the year, it's definitely deserving of your time and consideration.

Nose: Lots of vanilla mixed with some kind of weird cooked fruit note - maybe lemon and strawberry. Then there's something like a dusty, old book that's been coated with wood polish and then dusted with cinnamon. Old, dried bits of tobacco, some leather, and a little wood smoke. Caramel and toffee come in later as it opens. There's a nut note that feels like it's right in between peanut and almond - like maybe if you mixed peanut butter and almond butter, just not quite that rich. Lots of baking spice and maybe some red fruit that combine into a pie-like scent. Some noticeable ethanol. A lot going on, but feels like it takes some effort to tease it out. Palate: Sweet and fruity first with gooey strawberry jam laced with cinnamon. Caramel and vanilla custard with a buttery pie crust note underneath. Chocolate, more baking spice, red fruit. Lots of oak influence - both hot and bitter. Finish is long and hot. It's almost all cayenne and chili pepper. Ethanol also adds heat to the finish, although I hadn't noticed it earlier. Some bitter oak notes. Little bit of chocolate. Not much else, but it lasts a long time - one of the longest finishes I've experienced. Long story short: this has some good things going for it, but I never really warmed to it, and I don't love it. I'd call it a 50/50 bottle - if it appeals to you for some reason, I'd say grab it. If it's a reach, not worth the reach. That said, I'll certainly be curious to try the next batch.

The scent is very heavy on rye and oak, showing both young and aged characteristics, and it smells stronger than 100 proof, which is always a nice bonus. As is typical with most Bulleit products, the body is quite light, so the flavors don't immediately come forward. I've experienced both the 10-year bourbon and the cask strength bourbon, and this offering effectively combines those two profiles while incorporating a good amount of fresh rye. This exhibits a superior cask-aged taste compared to the 10-year bourbon, which is very bland and unimpressive. Meanwhile, the proof of this is almost ideal (perhaps a bit higher would be even better), and it carries the other flavors more readily than the standard cask strength bourbon, which didn't offer much beyond oak-derived flavors from the cask. Overall, this is a decent choice, especially for the price found, but primarily because it's a limited edition. If I knew this would be consistently available, I might look elsewhere to save some money.

Opened 1 month ago. Nose: Peanut brittle, vanilla, sharp rye spice, artificial or candied cherries, noticeable oak and ethanol. Palate: Caramel, salty peanuts, cherry bubble gum, cinnamon roll, with hints of grain and grass. Medium finish with hot, dry oak tannins, rye spice, and lingering notes of caramel, cinnamon, and peanut shells. A friend acquired this in Texas during the holidays at a great price. When we first opened it, we considered it harsh and disappointing during an evening of tasting. After a week or two, it significantly improves. I typically don't enjoy regular Bulleit, but this and their Single Barrel have been excellent. This blend is also labeled as 9 years old, and I believe it holds its own against Knob Creek Small Batch and Four Roses Single Barrel at this price point.

The aroma features cinnamon and candied cherries. The palate echoes this, feeling full and rich on the lips and tongue. The fruitiness persists pleasantly before finally giving way to spice at the very end, leaving a nice warmth in the chest. The alcohol level is just right for this whiskey; any lower and the fruitiness might diminish, any higher and the spice would dominate. Bulleit isn't usually a favorite of mine, as I've found their offerings to be adequate but not exceptional. This one stands out and makes me anticipate their future releases.

50% ABV, a combination of three distillates, aged 6-8 years. Consumed neat in a Norlan glass after resting for 10 minutes. Appears amber. The aroma presents alcohol, sweet tea, cherries, vanilla, and honey. The palate is medium-bodied, sweet, and smooth with little burn, though somewhat unclear. The finish is short, with notes of leather and tobacco. This is for your friend who really enjoys 'smooooth' spirits (whoa, I can't believe I'm saying that about a Diageo product 😋). But honestly, it's pleasant, but not remarkable. T8ke scale: 5, good, just fine