Heaven's Door 10 Year Decade Series (Release #1)

This is surprisingly one of those limited editions you might still find on the shelves at certain retailers. I was quite eager to try this until I returned home, examined the bottle, and noted it was described as a "high rye" Bourbon. I'm not particularly fond of rye, which lessened my anticipation for this bourbon... but would it be a letdown? The nose presents classic bourbon character with a lively edge. Caramel leads the way, quickly accompanied by bittersweet baking spices and orange peel. Sweet, thick honey concludes the aromatic profile. The taste initially starts sweet with a warm and viscous mouthfeel. Caramel slowly melts on the tongue, and slightly bitter orange pith rides alongside a touch of honey, bridging the taste to the finish. That finish introduces the expected rye spice from a high rye blend, along with some spicy cinnamon. A hint of musty leather rounds out the finish with a powdery sensation, reminding you of its higher proof. More complex than another well-known Bourbon, and certainly a less sweet interpretation of Bourbon, this offering is definitely worth a try. This bourbon is complex, yet it somehow harmonizes the taste by softening the transitions on the palate and finish themselves, which is no small accomplishment. Get a bottle while you still can.

The aroma begins with a delightful presence of creamy, charred oak, earthy rye spice, and hints of spearmint and toffee. It's wonderfully intriguing and almost refreshing. It shows its age remarkably well, possessing a distinct musk that is quite uncommon. The palate is somewhat dry, hitting the front of the mouth with black pepper, rye spice, and charred oak before gradually moving to the back. For a Tennessee whiskey, it's not overly sweet; it's more of a spice and oak explosion that largely overshadows everything else. The creaminess and spearmint don't quite come through, which prevents this from being truly exceptional. The finish is long and peppery, with astringent oak lingering in the mouth until it fades. Despite its initial presentation, it ends up being too dominated by spice at the expense of other elements. While still good, it feels slightly unbalanced.

The aroma is a pleasant mix of chalk, mint, honey, hay, and bread pudding with cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and pecan. An elusive herbal note is present. The taste features honey and hay with floral notes, orange, oak, caramel, vanilla, cherry, raisin, fig, toffee, and clove, along with some subtly damp herbal qualities… perhaps bay leaf? The finish includes lingering spices, smoky, earthy sawdust, and a persistent herbal note that veers towards bitter. I had higher expectations for this one, and the concluding note is disappointing, but it offers enough complexity to remain engaging.

NOSE Caramel, oak, corn meal, vanilla wafers, baking spice, pastry notes, and some light honey, citrus peel, and corn notes. A pleasant, warm aroma that is quite complex and interesting. PALATE Caramel, oak, corn meal, vanilla wafers, orange peel, dried orchard fruit, pastry sweetness with some honey and herbal spice. Warm and complex, this is a flavor profile that consistently draws me back. FINISH Medium-long -> Oak, caramel, fruit, and spice.

Wow, I'm surprised Chicago can produce such a good whiskey. The nose features butterscotch and banana maple. These flavors carry through to the palate, with the addition of pear. I first tried this a few weeks ago for my birthday, and even with a hazy memory of the night, this stood out as a highlight.

The aroma is very floral, which typically doesn't suit my palate. It's a very pleasant whiskey initially, with notes of sweet corn, caramel, and hints of butterscotch! Then suddenly... the mid-palate and finish reveal extreme floral and herbal characteristics. If floral whiskeys are your preference, then this dram is for you!