Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond (Fall 2018 Vintage)

The nose is heavily laden with ethanol, but with careful attention, notes of dark cherry, oak, vanilla, and green peppercorns emerge. The palate begins with a brief smoothness, richly coating the tongue with chocolate-covered cherries before a flash of hot ethanol that takes time to dissipate. Once it subsides, more peppercorn and caramel appear, leading to a clean, sweet finish. It bears some resemblance to Four Roses Special Edition, but is much hotter and less skillfully crafted. Using a Norlan glass tames the ethanol but also diminishes the cherry and entirely removes the peppercorn, leaving mainly vanilla and caramel, which is somewhat uninteresting in any whiskey, and even more so in what is claimed to be a limited release. A small amount of water (in a Glencairn) reduces the heat, making the cherry, vanilla, and caramel easier to detect, but it also renders it nearly indistinguishable from a dozen other mid-range bourbons. It's somewhat disappointing, as this, in my opinion, is the least impressive of the entire range. It drinks much hotter and younger than the 111, which is readily available year-round for 20% less and also possesses a superior flavor profile. I'm glad I had the chance to try it, but I won't be dedicating much effort to seeking out new iterations each spring and fall.

I'm still trying to understand this one. It seems quite complex to me, with hints of fruit, a lot of spice, some smoke, and oak. A really good bourbon for the cost.

This Bottled-in-Bond is quite smooth at first, then reveals rich oak and caramel. The grain notes are prominent at the end of the palate.

A bit hotter than I would prefer. A thin cherry flavor (distinctly cherry, not cough syrup cherry). The taste is not bad at all, but it's a tad expensive at $52.

Tastes very similar to a Four Roses product to me. Minty with some spice. Malty on the back end.