Hardin's Creek Jacob's Well

The nose is bold and rich, beginning with a blend of powdered sugar-dusted caramelized peaches, butterscotch crème brûlée, and dusty leather-bound books, followed by dark chocolate-covered pretzels and pipe tobacco. Then come sautéed apples, cherry pie filling, and mandarin orange, transitioning to light spearmint, cloves, ginger, and polished mahogany with minimal ethanol burn. The taste has a rich and oily mouthfeel, starting with creamy orchard fruit, butterscotch pudding, and dusty leather-bound books, then blonde roast espresso, dark chocolate-covered candied peanuts, and freshly lit pipe tobacco. This is followed by sautéed apples, maraschino cherries, and mandarin oranges, transitioning to light spearmint, cloves, ginger, and polished mahogany with low ethanol burn. The finish is long with sautéed cinnamon apples, butterscotch pudding, caramelized peaches, blonde espresso, candied peanuts, light spearmint, mild black pepper, dusty leather-bound books, and polished mahogany. This is phenomenal bourbon that has aged gracefully over the years, with well-aged oak notes integrated into bold and rich traditional bourbon flavors. It drinks far below its stated proof, with an exceptional balance of flavors that was expertly composed. With every sip, I was amazed and captivated by how easy-sipping and rich it is; before finishing my sample, I had already ordered two bottles to allow further exploration of this glorious elixir. For now, I'm rating it 4.75, but I could certainly see myself increasing this to a 5 after further contemplation when my bottles arrive. Thanks so much for the generous sample from a friend, as this is something I likely wouldn't have tried otherwise.

A group of us had our regular online tasting session. This was one of the standout pours of the night, provided by a friend. The other four selections were 1) Bardstown Chateau Laubade batch 1 2) Craigellechie 13 Armagnac finished, 3) Barrell 20yr Seagrass, and 4) 2021 Lagavulin 12 I've sampled this before, purchasing it for a modest price when it was released. I found it acceptable, and at that price, I had no complaints. Initially, I suspected this might be the same as another well-known brand, just with different packaging. It's not – it's far more intricate. The aroma reveals dark fruits, vanilla, and oak. A classic bourbon profile. The palate mirrors a high-quality classic bourbon. It has notes of leather, oak, some rye, vanilla, and maple. This truly embodies a superior, traditional bourbon. I'm uncertain of its cost, but anything under $150 would make me a buyer. The depth of its complexity elevates it significantly beyond a previously tried selection from a specific store pick. Many thanks to a friend for the sample!

Aroma: sweet, buttery, and dense. A familiar, quality bourbon scent from Beam. Robust and nutty. Taste: dense and rich. Nutty with a noticeable warmth. Aftertaste: slightly spicy, reminiscent of an excellent private selection of Knob Creek. It lingers pleasantly, similar to Booker's. Summary: I would liken this to a fine 15-year Knob Creek selection from the past. It's 108 proof and drinks as such. The extremely dark color suggests significant aging. I'm thoroughly enjoying this from the first pour after opening. The cost is surprisingly high compared to older 15-year KC picks, but the new packaging, extras like a leather strap and carrying case, compelling backstory, and the coveted "limited release" designation contribute to the price. Would I purchase more for drinking? Likely just a couple of extra bottles. It's a superb, classic bourbon with a good narrative, suited for special events, but I don't foresee it becoming a rare collector's item soon.

Full and viscous, with nice legs. The nose initially presents peanut and baking spice (nutmeg?), but with continued nosing, some dark fruit is detected at the back. Thick mouthfeel. Not as sweet as the nose suggests, with leather and tobacco joining the mix, along with that distinct older oak characteristic of aged Beam. The finish is relatively short but pleasant. If this were a Knob Creek Single Barrel selection, it would be a solid one, especially for the ~$50 price point… but as someone who recalls those days, it's hard to accept this as an allocated release at the prices it's currently seeking.

I'll be concise, deviating from my usual lengthy descriptions. This is good, as expected from a 15-year-old Beam whiskey. The aroma shows some astringency from extended barrel aging – hints of furniture and leather polish. The palate is rich with aged notes – wood furniture, a dusty attic, dark cigar wrappers, brown sugar, sorghum, and a touch of cedar and clove. No rating yet – this one requires further consideration. Simply a delightful whiskey.

Aroma - Red apples, vanilla, and damp oak… old and musty. The rye character emerges with cinnamon and baking spices. Not incredibly complex, but very enjoyable. Taste - wow. Oh man.. that is really freaking good. A flavor explosion right now with a nice long finish for 104 proof. Old damp oak, and leather.. vanilla, red apples, slight nuttiness, cinnamon. Super rich and decadent. The balance is fantastic. Easily a 4.75 for me.