Crouch Distilling Straight Bourbon

Crouch Distilling Straight Bourbon 2019 Batch 1 Bottle 177 46% abv No age statement, so I estimate at least 4 years. Mash bill of blue corn, malted barley, and malted rye. Nose: Smells of roasted nuts, corn ethanol, chocolate malt, pan-roasted corn, warm tortillas, vanilla and toffee cream, rye grain mash, mint cream, a hint of anise, sweet oak, and leather. All three grains make their presence known sequentially, not competing, but each taking a turn. Palate: Sweet corn, roasted chestnuts, and chalky dark chocolate are followed by oak vanilla, mint cream, and Andes mints. Then the oak barrel truly erupts in the mid-palate and dominates from then on. Charred oak, peppery barrel spice, and a warm, strong proof embrace. Finish: Drying, chalky, with chocolate mint and sweet-and-sour oak notes interacting, plus leather and cream soda. The finish is long and quite drying. This is a bourbon for you if you enjoy prominent barrel and wood notes dancing wildly with the grains. The oak reminds me instantly of Woodford Double Oaked and OF 1910. However, the mashbill and grain character are quite distinct. The corn is nutty and sweet, the barley is rich and malty, and the rye is minty yet rounds out with a malty sweetness. Overall, it's a very enjoyable and unique bourbon. Made with all local grains and aged over 4 years in extremely hot conditions, like Columbia, South Carolina. The heat's influence and barrel presence are significant, almost Texas-like. The flavors are a bit sharp but not in an unpleasant way. A great Carolina bourbon and worth trying.