Duke Kentucky Straight Bourbon

A purchase made on a whim, prompted by a local shop's suggestion. Smell: Quite floral, reminiscent of Wild Turkey, but with an underlying nutty oakiness that's appealing. A touch of stewed apple with notes of lemon zest. Taste: Less pleasing than the aroma. Some sweetness and more floral notes are present, but they are overwhelmed by young, piney whiskey, masking everything else. Finish: Rather lengthy and drying, with some oak and hints of barrel spices, but that young, piney whiskey character persists and tends to overshadow everything else. This has potential, but without extended barrel aging, I'd advise against it. It's a shame. New distillers must decide whether to release products prematurely, risking alienating potential future customers when their aged bottles become available.

This is one of those bourbons that achieves its goals perfectly. It's not exceptional but is acceptable. It's enjoyable without leaving a memorable impression. Not at all. There's no age statement, no details, and no lingering finish, just bourbon. It's solid. The only thing memorable about it is remembering you drank it and that it was pleasant and made you feel good. I was anticipating a disappointment, similar to the actual Duke and the whole western cowboy American narrative, but in that regard, I was pleasantly surprised. It's good. Purchase it. Consume it. Give a nod of approval. Continue with your life and slowly forget about it. It's the only thing you can do with it.

I'll take a chance on this 5 YO Green River distilled spirit for $25. The aroma is traditional, sweet, with light vanilla and a hint of grain. On the palate, I definitely detect the spice and grain notes come through. The finish is not very long. The mouthfeel is quite good for an 88 proofer. There's a touch of cinnamon. It's not too bad for $25, so I'm okay with the purchase. I've certainly had much worse.

Appearance: Brownish-orange hue with noticeable lacing and substantial alcohol legs. Smell: A strong presence of rye spice and barrel notes, with a subtle, unidentifiable sweetness. Quite floral. Taste: Peppery, rye, oak, exhibiting standard bourbon characteristics. Finish: Quite fiery with some corn undertones. Overall: Not particularly impressed with this one. A straightforward bourbon.

After letting it sit for 20 minutes, the aroma presents buttery vanilla, chocolate, cherry, black pepper, bubblegum, wintergreen, anise, and strawberry. The taste delivers a powerful wave of peppery spice, butter, and caramel, followed by chocolate, toffee, red hots, and a minty, caramel toffee conclusion. It has a moderate duration. Watch for a late raspberry finish.

Nose: Faint honey and fruit. Palate: A whisper of sweetness, very delicate, with no significant texture. Finish: A hint of char, as if it briefly touched a flame. This is like the sparkling water of bourbon. It gives the impression that the bottle itself somehow imparted flavor. It's not enjoyable.