Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond (Spring 2017 Vintage)

Neat. Sample. Time is passing fast, hard to believe Chattanooga is ready for a bottles-in-bond release. Very excited to try this for the first time. And the nose does not disappoint on first impression. Nice blend of malt and toast. It’s a beautiful blend of sweet and savory. Getting this nice BBQ rub with apple, cinnamon, brown sugar. Little corn bread too. Lots of vanilla. Getting a cherry cola now - it’s morphing a bit from the first impression. Mouthfeel is a bit watery. Hmm, it packs less flavor than the nose let on but the finish is nice. Initially it is all brown sugar and cinnamon, hint of apple. Transitions into that savory BBQ rub and the cherry cola. Malt and baking spices, hint of pepper on the finish. On the finish, a vanilla emerges and lingers and carries the pepper along the way. I like it, but I like it less than I expected. The combo of sweet/savory is nice, it finishes strong but I would buy a 111 proof over this.

This is a very difficult rating. On the positive side, the nose has considerable complexity with the various malted barley types. Additionally, the mouthfeel and finish are outstanding. I do detect some chocolate and a bit of cherry on the finish, and this certainly tastes different from traditional bourbons. On the negative side, I detect an ashy taste that lowers the rating for me. For $45, it offers a different experience, and I'm glad I have it. I'll see how it develops over time. Retried in late January... Still the same. That ashy taste is quite off-putting and very hard to overlook. I'm not planning to buy another, and the 3 stars I originally gave would likely decrease. I'm just not a fan.

Nose - caramel and apple slices. Smoke and butterscotch. There's another fruity element, but I can't quite place it. Taste - A good amount of complexity blends well with the bourbon heat. Sweet floral notes with butterscotch come through. The smoke is more subtle here than in the nose; I'm not detecting much char. Dark fruit is also present. With a couple drops of water, the butterscotch, oak, and vanilla really start to shine. Overall, it's another excellent offering from Chattanooga.

Opened 1 week ago, tasted neat in a glencairn. Nose: intense cinnamon, vanilla, tart cherry, ethanol. Palate: cinnamon toast, glazed butter, lime zest, sawdust, smoky oak. Finish: significant burn with smoke and oak. Overall: the ethanol and burn subdue the nose and palate characteristics. It drinks young, and the proof seems higher than 100.

This is my follow-up assessment after editing the taste notes from a few months ago. It hasn't evolved well. The ashy flavor is even more prominent. I simply don't enjoy it, so the rating has been fairly reduced. If you wish to see my original review, please find it, but this has not held up over time.

The initial aroma is a bit unusual, but I grew to appreciate it as it sat. The prominent malt character comes through on the palate, very much like scotch. I detect significant chocolate and a good level of rye spice. The finish is extremely short.