Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon

Rating: 18/23 Nose: Dusty with mature barrel spice and tartness. Pleasant, substantial corn sweetness, not syrupy. This corn character is developing nicely and I approve. Palate: Smooth yet spicy, with sweet corn and mild cherry. A subtle earthy woodiness and faint anise are present. Spices include black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and a whisper of clove. The dustiness enhances a big, dusty vanilla. Very faint dill. Finish: Spicy and dusty with increased tannins. Faint vanilla. More bitter and tannic than desired, but the occasional vanilla sweetness is a plus. - Conclusion - Compared directly, I believe this surpasses Russell's Reserve 10 (16/23). The Russell's presents more of a challenge with a stronger alcohol bite. Blanton's offers more sweetness but less mature flavor. They are quite competitive. I might slightly prefer this for its mature, aged profile. Belle Meade Cask Strength (18/23) has appealing herbal and bitter notes, but tastes somewhat younger and has a more pronounced alcoholic intensity. This is clearly superior. Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered (18/23) has a stronger alcohol kick but is more decadent and complex. This may taste older, but honestly, I would likely choose the Smoke Wagon. Russell's Reserve Single Barrel possesses more depth but less complexity than this. This Russell's evokes a more aged character than the previous one, and I find their quality very similar to the Eight & Sand. Overall, I'm getting a solid 18 vibe here. Some of the comparison scores might be questionable, so this isn't the most scientific assessment, but an 18 feels appropriate. Revisiting this a few days later, it remains a very enjoyable 18. Thanks to a friend for sharing another excellent dram!

Taste: Drank neat in a glen cairn. Nose: (3) It initially hits with a lot of alcohol vapor, but that fades. Plenty of vanilla and spice are present, along with some younger wood notes. It's reminiscent of a workshop, but in a good way – like your grandfather is hand-building something and you're assisting. The nose seems a bit immature. Palate (3.75): Spice and vanilla are prominent, with cinnamon like red-hot candies. It offers sweetness without being overly sugary or artificial. It's not bad; the palate is superior to the nose. Adding water toned down the cinnamon slightly and revealed some sweet cherry notes. Finish (3.5): My main criticism is that it's a bit thin and dry. Woody notes linger in the mid-palate. The sawdust aroma from grandpa's workshop dominates somewhat. Oak emerges with a warming finish that seems better than its stated proof. Overall: I wish the distiller had picked one bourbon, aged it longer, and released a barrel-proof option, similar to their rye. I believe blending older and younger whiskeys made this slightly disjointed. It tastes a bit young and woody on the finish, but the components for an excellent whiskey are there; they're just a bit underdeveloped and perhaps not well integrated. I wouldn't pass it up at $29 a bottle, as it's quality stuff and good for sipping or mixing. However, the dry finish and the name's reference to "sand" might draw comparisons among fellow bourbon enthusiasts. It gets five stars for the vintage-style bottle and the steam train imagery, reminding me of the show "Hell on Wheels."

Fifteen dollars doesn't go far nowadays, but it was enough to purchase this. It comes in a well-presented bottle with a good feel and an actual cork. The bottle indicates no GNS or coloring added, meaning this blended bourbon is entirely whiskey, all sourced from MGP. The nose presents sour strawberry, perhaps a bit of caramel, and after a few minutes, rye notes emerge behind them, but it's primarily strawberry and a hint of artificial strawberry candy. The palate is similar to other MGP whiskies, which I don't mind. It's sweet but not excessively so, with fruity notes of cherry, caramel, some cinnamon, and a touch of rye reappears. It's a bit thin, but it's not bad for $15. However, I was informed it usually costs around $30, at which price point it would offer little value.

Neat. First pour. Classic MGP nose, very aromatic for only 88 proof. Dessert-like flavors with hints of oak and pepper. Vanilla, light caramel, and butterscotch. A whisper of berries and cream. Smooth and almost creamy texture. Light body but also oily. Not a lot of flavor on the tongue. Mild sweetness, but otherwise subdued, with some barrel spice and vanilla. The taste is delightful, very bright, and sweet. Vanilla and light caramel. Light, milky chocolate notes on the legs. Considering it's 88 proof and $30, you can't go wrong. With that in mind, the oily, thick texture and smooth dessert qualities are remarkable. It's a tasty, light MGP option. I can see myself reaching for this as a great daily drinker when I'm just in the mood for a dessert bourbon.

Aroma: somewhat subdued, sweet corn, and a hint of cinnamon Flavor: initially it seems simple with just sweetness and undertones of cinnamon, but as it opens up, the spice becomes more noticeable and is quite pleasing Overall: There's not a great deal going on, but when it opens up, it's a nice, easy-sipping rye-forward bourbon.

Initial tastes are vanilla with a touch of caramel. It deepens mid-palate with nutty and fruity notes of pecan and cherry. Vanilla reappears at the back, alongside chocolate and oaky spice. The finish is balanced and moderate, with a light coating of spice and prominent notes of vanilla bean and oak.