Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon

Almost precisely a year ago, I was at a restaurant next to my hotel, enjoying a late meal after arriving in Phoenix for a business trip. I was pleased to find this on the menu and had a taste. However, the restaurant's ambiance, with food aromas, music, and conversation, made it hard to concentrate. Now, a year later, I finally have my own bottle. Here's the serious review, enjoyed neat from a Glencairn glass as intended. The aroma is a lovely blend of sweet and spicy, reminiscent of apple pie but with a heavy hand of cinnamon. There's plenty of vanilla whipped topping, and all this dessert sweetness is wrapped in a leather jacket. The taste is notably smooth, without alcohol heat, and beautifully sweet. The apple pie from the aroma carries through, along with the cinnamon swirl. Caramel cream significantly softens the flavor mid-palate, creating a viscous, coating mouthfeel. It's quite delicious. Just before the prominent spiciness of the finish arrives, a touch of leather from the aroma dries up the sweetness from the taste, leaving only cinnamon. Fortunately, the thick mouthfeel described earlier persists through the finish, which is satisfyingly long, oily, and spicy. Your tongue is left with a slight tingle, encouraging another sip. This is truly one of the great ones. I understand the hype, and it's well-deserved. A year ago, secondary market prices were $300-400. I recently bought my bottle locally for $199, which is still more than we should pay. However, sometimes you need to treat yourself to some exceptionally good bourbon.

When I go to the second Mashbill group meeting at the Buffalo Trace Grief Counseling Center, the people there tell me this is a disappointment. It might be better than Blanton's, but it's not close to Blanton's Gold or RHF. I always agreed without really thinking, but I see tonight that I've never truly assessed this one properly. I'm going to dive in now. I'll go so deep you could call me Sisko. If that's not an early 2000s rap lyric, it ought to be. Nose is sharp and subtle. Honey, lemon, vanilla. Melon. A trace of saltiness. Coffee grounds. Body is smooth and moist. The taste disappears very fast, though. Vanilla appears first. That MB2 apple is present too, with chocolate, saltiness, and then… a flower? I'm keeping it in. There's definitely a floral essence at the end of the sip, and I can't think of a better description. Finish is gentle, but it stays. There's cinnamon, syrup. A bit of the apple remains, but cinnamon is the main element. This is wonderful. I'm enthusiastic before drinking and content when I'm finished. If this falls short of RHF and Blanton's gold... I think it would be like being the least attractive Jonas Brother. You know the one. I mean… you're still doing well. When I switched to gold… and I know I love gold… the gold tasted sharp and acidic. Not good. I did a palate cleanse so I could appreciate my second drink, but for me the conclusion is that within the MB2 group, ETL must lean sweet and rich, while Blanton's in all its forms is more nutty and sharp. Next day: I compare it to Hancock's now. I believe Hancock's is superior. It keeps all the good qualities but loses some of that sharpness. There's more sweetness, more tartness. This is a more… direct comparison. 😎. I can't really find anything that ETL does better. I don't have an open RHF right now, but I know it's the winner. I'm also confident enough to say that Ancient Age is the loser. Even as a devoted fan, I struggle to distinguish between all these. It's a good spirit. It's not my top choice by a few, but it's good. I would always be happy to share it with a friend.

I first sampled this spirit at a bar on March 24th. I was so impressed that I wrote a brief review while still drinking it. Since then, I've searched for it, and my persistence has been rewarded. The staff at my local store assisted me, and I managed to purchase it at the suggested retail price (nearby stores are charging almost four times that amount, which I find quite frustrating). Here is my revised and more in-depth review... Color: Medium to light copper-amber. Nose: A rather mild aroma, which is not unexpected given its moderate alcohol content. Slightly leathery and oaky. Palate: (Consumed with an ice cube) Oaky, with a gentle sweetness and an equal measure of spice. This spirit possesses a truly unique flavor profile, yet it presents some familiar notes found in spirits like Blanton's. While this might seem contradictory, it makes sense if you're aware of the history of Elmer T. Lee. With each sip, I detect hints of an apple crisp dessert from a favorite local restaurant: apple, vanilla ice cream, and oats. It's a very subtle, smooth, and easy-drinking spirit. Finish: Medium, I'd say... with a quality reminiscent of warm, buttery toasted bread – like graham cracker.

The nose is rich with vanilla, cherry, oak, cake frosting, marshmallow, and flan. There's virtually no spice, only sweetness and wood. No ethanol detected. The palate closely mirrors the nose; everything mentioned above is present. Additional notes of apple, strawberry, cinnamon sugar, and sweetened oak emerge. It's akin to oak infused with cotton candy. While not exceptionally intricate, the existing profile is quite delicious. It delivers substantial flavor for its 90 proof. The finish gradually transforms from the palate, bringing forth the cherry hinted at in the aroma, cinnamon bear candy, and more of that delightful sweet oak. The mouthfeel is an absolute pleasure; soft, silky, and nicely viscous, it perfectly complements the palate and significantly enhances the overall experience. Some might call it 'short', but when it's this good, I really don't mind. It's quite understandable why bottles from this distillery are so highly regarded; it's excellent. The question is: should I rate it based on the retail price I paid (thanks to a raffle at Total Wine!) or what most people are paying? I certainly wouldn't spend around $200 for it, but at the $52 I paid? In that case, it's a solid 5.0.

ELMER T LEE SMELL: Dry and woody. Cinnamon stick, brown sugar, hazelnut, aged leather, and black pepper. Tasted Straight: Initially, you get drying oak tannins, cinnamon, peanut brittle, black pepper, rye spice, and a touch of barnyard. It's not super complex, but it's dependable. The finish and backend, though, make the whole experience worse with a too-bitter note. Tasted with a Splash: The bitterness at the end is reduced, turning more into baking spice. CONCLUSION: After a lot of hype for years, this isn't quite what I expected. It's good (maybe I'm being too critical after a fantastic 4 Roses drink yesterday), but this particular barrel is not worth the resale price.

Glass: Glencairn, sat for 15 minutes. Appearance: A medium amber hue. Smell: The aroma is strongly characterized by apple, with vanilla and caramel notes following. Taste: Initially, notes of baking spice and clove are present, leading into some subtle cinnamon flavors. Aftertaste: It lingers for a considerable time with moderate warmth. Addition: Oak-like tannins emerge. Conclusion: 9/10 - While it doesn't quite meet the expectations set by its buzz or resale value, it's quite tasty at its suggested retail price. Echoing my previous assessment from three years ago, this would be an excellent choice for regular enjoyment if it were more accessible (at MSRP).