Flatboat Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

This was an interesting find. I've seen Flatboat quite often while browsing, but it always seemed like a budget mixer bourbon (and bourbon cream, to include everyone), and never sounded appealing enough to try, even at the very low price. However, the single barrel concept itself, the bottle's shape, and the fact that I just needed one more bottle to complete my latest haul led me to purchase this. Once I got home, I recalled that since it was Liquor Barn's own brand, no one locally would have any chance of finding or obtaining it, which is always nice as it encourages my sharing habits. The color is quite pale, but I expected this from a less expensive brand with no age statement. The aroma easily features vanilla and caramel, but not very strongly, which I didn't anticipate for a 100 proof product. Spice is also detectable, but it's more like warm baking spices than traditional rye notes. It also has very minimal burn; I could almost put my entire nose in the glass without issue. The body is light and slightly warm. Sure, it does have some characteristics of a less expensive whiskey, but I can tell it's the best of the available options, a true testament to the single barrel selection (even without any barrel information on the label). While the initial taste is weak spice and not much else, it seems to open and develop almost suddenly into pronounced vanilla and caramel. The finish is fairly short, and the aforementioned flavors fade just as quickly, replaced by rye spice and a bit of proof burn. While not exceptional, this is tasty, which is something many bourbons struggle to achieve. That alone isn't enough to justify $40, but for me, not being able to find this bottle at home and having a nice addition to the collection makes me feel better about the purchase. And, even though Liquor Barn isn't a haven for product availability (which is always surprising), it's the best consistent option I know of, and for that, I'm happy to support them with this brand.

My initial impression of FlatBoat is that its aroma isn't as strong as I expected for a 100 proof spirit, offering hints of vanilla and oak. The first sip had a mild burn, but it warmed my stomach pleasantly. Swirling it on my tongue revealed hints of vanilla and a subtle earthy note. This was all while drinking it warm; I plan to try it on ice and let it breathe, then update my review.

Nose: Cinnamon, caramel, brown sugar, with light notes of apple. Palate: Brown sugar and cinnamon, accompanied by a medium finish. Overall: An easily drinkable spirit with a medium finish but lacking complexity.

Slightly abrasive on the palate. Vanilla and spice are noticeable.

THE BANK - subtle hints of peanut butter.

Acceptable - perfectly adequate.