Heaven's Door Ascension Kentucky Straight Bourbon

My initial thoughts on the new Heaven's Door Ascension from August 12, 2023, were hopeful, and I truly wanted to be forgiving. I've now removed that original assessment and am revising my review and score... I dislike this spirit. I made an effort, but it has a strong, unpleasant "medicinal" taste. It's rare for me to dislike a bottle enough to consider pouring it down the drain, but this one might deserve that fate. However, I'll attempt to pass it off to another bourbon lover for their opinion. If they enjoy it, fantastic! If they share my reaction, then they can dispose of it. LOL! My apologies, Heaven's Door. I had high expectations for your inaugural Kentucky Bourbon, but you truly missed the mark with this release. My final score of 2.25 reflects that it's not the absolute worst I've had, but it's nowhere near even a basic quality. I would choose Old Grand Dad 100 Bottled-in-Bond or Evan Williams 1783 over this again, as they are superior bourbons for a significantly lower cost!

The nose smells of vanilla, caramel, and buttery pastries. With a deeper inhale, you detect some dried apricot and a hint of herbaceous licorice. The palate starts off as expected for a bourbon. Softly sweet caramel and vanilla, similar to the nose. The back of the palate becomes drier and spicier. Cinnamon, rye spice, and pepper carry that flavor to the finish. Surprisingly, the finish blends the earlier vanilla and caramel with some anise-like herbaceous qualities, and it's actually quite good on its own. For an affordable, widely available new core release from this brand (I read it's a new core release, please correct me if I'm mistaken), this is a solid sipper, though perhaps a bit mild and one-dimensional. Definitely recommended.

This is an excellent addition to any collection! The nose offers sweet caramel and butterscotch. The initial sip is heavily oak-influenced, followed by a caramel butter flavor.

This reminds me of a Bob Dylan track. Initially, you're uncertain about your enjoyment, but after several drinks, it grows on you. It's a fine whiskey with a vibrant character.

It smells like cherries or cough syrup. There's a mineral taste initially, followed by cherry, and the aftertaste lingers with little burn.

Aromatic and mellow, with a hint of rye spice. Adding air increases the spice. The palate is rich with corn, has a medium body, and a touch of sweetness and spice.