Cream of Kentucky 12.3 Year Old Single Barrel

Nose - caramel, oak, a touch of honey, and I know this might sound like suggestion, but lactose. Also vanilla and powdered sugar. Very sweet and very candied. Taste - This is truly unique. It's sweet, but not as much as the nose suggested. There's oak, but it's not overpowering. It has a good body, yet it finishes rather quickly. I can't quite describe it; it's like a Werther's butterscotch candy with bitter oak and alcohol. Adding water reveals some kind of fruity note, but not a sweet fruit, followed by some unique savory bourbon notes. I don't often detect savory notes in bourbon, but this has some really savory qualities. The oak effect and the alcohol bite are very bourbon-like, but the initial flavors could easily make me think of scotch. I'll need to let this open up over time; perhaps more of the chocolate notes I suspect are present will emerge. For now, it's a unique experience, but steer clear if it's over $200. 2.75 - A very good experience, but it falls a bit short of being a must-try if cost is a factor.

Vanilla, smooth, spicy, warm, starting weak, with a great, sweet finish.

Caramel notes. Smooth.