Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon 2022 (Batch 4)

Smell - nothing special, light vanilla and caramel, subtle baking spices Taste - the body is much better than the smell. surprisingly pleasant and flavorful, sweet, bright, floral, vanilla cream; medium viscosity. tastes young but very drinkable Aftertaste - immaturity with a hint of harshness comes out at the end but not at all astringent, medium warmth on the finish Overall, well-crafted at 101 proof. Beautiful bottle. Received this as a gift so unable to speak about its value for the price, but it is one I would be proud to share with fellow enthusiasts.

Sweet on the nose, but prepare for a kick. When tasting at the distillery, they suggested sipping and holding it for 30 seconds to allow your taste buds to adjust before swallowing. (It burns) Subsequent sips start sweet with vanilla and fruit. It then concludes with a pleasant, even warmth across your tongue, reminiscent of tart fruit and oak.

The aroma is straightforward with notes of rye spice and sweetness. The taste is smooth, featuring vanilla and rye spice. It's a young bourbon, only 4 years old. A dependable purchase.

For 97 proof, I was surprised by the lack of burn. Strong notes of vanilla. Smooth and balanced, but could have used more depth in the flavor profile.

Thin and hot. It's inoffensive but not something you need to seek out. A little underwhelming and not particularly memorable. 2/5 I would drink this out of politeness.

This ranks among my top three favorites under $100. I'm eager to open batches 5 and 6.