Green River Bourbon

Color: Light-Medium Copper Nose: The aroma is fairly light, featuring oak with a faint whiff of alcohol, and a touch of cherry. Overall, a pleasant scent. Palate: (Consumed neat, keeping the low proof in mind) My initial impression is that it's somewhat young, but not as unpleasant as other young-tasting spirits I've sampled previously. Actually, I'm detecting some licorice in these first sips. You wouldn't expect much burn at this proof... but this stuff gives you a nice warm embrace! It's slightly sweet on the tongue with a light mouthfeel. There's also some "fruitiness" that emerges, especially after adding an ice cube in later pours and it begins to dilute. The licorice I noted earlier gradually transforms into menthol the more I drink. An interesting contrast between the warm embrace and the "cooling" menthol flavor. It's spicy on the finish. Finish: Medium with spicy menthol. It might sound odd, but the finish is the best part of this one for me. Final Thoughts: Hmmmm. I generally dislike bourbon that tastes young, but this one has an interesting enough character to prevent me from giving it a negative review and a low score. I've heard it's aged "at least 4 years", but I can't confirm. For the $30 price range, I'd consider it "good". 3.0 stars.

Aroma- - Caramel and aged wet oak are very prominent right at the start. I'm also getting a good amount of lemon cake with vanilla frosting… and a hint of leather is coming through as well. As it develops, I'm detecting notes of red apple and even a subtle touch of cracked black pepper. I have to say, for a bottle under $40, the aroma is quite pleasing and layered. The oak presence is very nice and reminds me of a much older aged bourbon. I truly hope the palate lives up to the aroma. Taste - Light fruit and caramel... a touch of vanilla. I'm still getting a faint hint of that sweet cake and frosting. The finish is very brief and has a slightly drying sensation on the back end. This is also quite hot. A little rough around the edges, to be honest. Overall - The aroma is significantly better than the palate. The aroma comes across as complex and much older... the palate is youthful, flat, and the finish is quite drying. It tastes hotter than its stated proof too. For under $40, it's average. A decent bottle to have available for gatherings (I ended up transferring this into a decanter). It's probably something I'll use to make an old fashioned. I doubt I'll buy another bottle.

I purchased this some time ago and have sampled it intermittently over the past few months. I paid between $30 and $35, which is my usual price range. It has many positive attributes, which I appreciate. It possesses a bold, almost unpolished character, but this is intentional. On the nose, I detect ethanol and vanilla, but with patience, some spice emerges. The initial taste is a bit rough but not unpleasant, revealing vanilla, spice, and oak. These elements harmonize well, and the ethanol dissipates quickly. The finish is rather brief but satisfying, with woody notes and vanilla. It also makes an excellent Old Fashioned and holds up well in a Manhattan, with the flavors complementing the cocktails nicely. In summary, it's a pleasant bourbon, reminiscent of standard Bulleit Bourbon, which is not a negative observation. Enjoy.

This was quite a pleasant surprise. I can't recall the last time a new distillery, distilling and aging its own bourbon, actually produced a good product! Perhaps New Riff? It must be at least 5 years old. Nose: Vanilla, mellow sweet oak, hints of cereal & barley grains, maple syrup. Taste: More vanilla and baking spices, a touch of mint, honey, and grass. Finish: Brief but reasonably smooth for a newly distilled bourbon that claims self-distilling and aging. For $40, would I pick this over Elijah Craig, Maker's 46, or Woodford? No, those standards are established for a reason. But this is a nice daily drinker that I will certainly try again soon. Interesting observation: adding water enhances the grassy notes on the nose but doesn't significantly impact the taste.

It has the aroma of a PayDay candy bar with a bit of cinnamon. It's quite complex for the price, shifting to more of a Red Hot candy flavor (yes... still cinnamon). On the palate, it's very pleasant, and I notice less of the candy note, but a really nice cinnamon and warming sensation on the front of my tongue. I don't usually get a strong raisin note, but it's absent here. The finish is very warming and somewhat long. This is definitely a purchase for the value. Gratitude to my friend Derek for sending me a bottle. He's a great friend!

The aroma is mild, with subtle hints of vanilla and oak. The taste is somewhat thin and lacks significant depth. This bourbon makes no pretense of being anything other than what it is. It's sweet upon initial tasting. The body is a bit lean, finishing with oak. The aftertaste is minimal. Some have drawn comparisons to Buffalo Trace, but I disagree; it lacks the specific flavors of Buffalo Trace that make it suitable for sipping neat. This bourbon is better suited for mixed drinks.