Heaven's Door Double Barrel Whiskey

Rating: 14/23 I'm somewhat anticipating this one because it's 50% ABV and has a 7 year age statement. That's about what Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof, possibly the peak of (actually available) Tennessee whiskey, is rumored to be. Conversely, the flavors in Heaven's Door Tennessee bourbon were subtle, so I worry that this will mute them with the finishing barrel on top of the mild distillate. Nose: Sweet! A caramelly banana, corn scent permeates this. It's a bit heavier on the banana (less green) than Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof, but it isn't overwhelming. There's some substantial woodiness with tannins and spices underneath the sweetness. I think there's vanilla, but it's registering to me a little like bubblegum. A possible hint of oily orange peel. Palate: Woody and sweet. A bit of over-oaked bitterness from the wood that maybe shouldn't be there, but some of the wood's bitterness definitely helps to restrain the sweetness. There's plenty of barrel spice as well - cinnamon, ginger, clove. I do actually get a substantial (though not overwhelming) amount of the oily orange flavor. It really makes me think of curacao. Faint chocolate at times and a touch of smoke. A little mature complexity from the wood, but there really isn't much of that. There's something bitter and herbal here. It makes me think of Fernet Branca a bit actually. Maybe that's what I was blaming on over-oaking and really it's just some nice herbal complexity. Oh, there's definitely some white pepper. A bit of that corn character comes out at times, adding a bit of richness to the light caramel. This doesn't have the most rounded profile out there and it definitely has a couple of sharp edges, but it generally comes together fairly well. This has a fullness about on the level of Buffalo Trace. The Buffalo Trace has a more mature and balanced profile with layers coming out of the wood and a clearer vanilla character, but this has kind of that interesting herbal side to it giving it a bit more boldness. Finish: Bitter harbaceousness with licorice and mint. A touch of orange underneath some light caramel sweetness with faint corn - Conclusion - I think that this is about on par with Buffalo Trace. Their styles are half quite similar and then they go in very different directions. This also reminds me a bit of Elijah Craig Small Batch (15/23). I always think that Elijah Craig Small Batch tastes a little tannic like it's slightly over-oaked, but this is actually more bitter. I find that the Elijah Craig tastes more mature, but this does have that interesting herbal character to it. I would take the Elijah Craig, but the gap between the two is not as large as I'd thought it would be. Going a funkier route, Wild Turkey 101 (14/23) has the complexity to go toe-to-tow with this and has a lot of interesting character to it. The Wild Turkey's added fruity layer is pretty nice, but it's alcohol really does show through more. This on the other hand has some youthful sweetness and that big bitter note. It's a tough call between the two. I did think that a 13 seemed a little low for this though and a 15 seems a little high, so I guess a 14 is appropriate. This is definitely trough around the edges, but it's still pretty approachable and it has some personality.

Smells like candy corn, both literally and figuratively. Sweet corn, but also the candy. A little spice and mint in the smell too. The first impression is bitter and oaky, then a rush of sweetness. I detect the flavor of young bourbon. More mint and a hint of menthol on the finish. It will be intriguing to see what a few drops of water do, as it is quite spicy and intense right away. After adding water, the aroma becomes pine and mint. Wow, it's now more oily, a full blast of spice and cinnamon red hot. Definitely more complex and improved. I have to admit it has a Tennessee Whiskey note to it. The Lincoln County process, which I'm not a big fan of.

An intense American Whiskey from the founders of Heaven's Door Spirits in Tennessee, crafted from a blend of three distinct Whiskeys and then aged for nearly another year in new toasted oak. It presents an aromatic opening with notes of Cracker Jacks, dried fruit, marzipan, vanilla custard, and a whisper of toasted oak; its life is warm and spicy with hints of butterscotch, baking spices, dark chocolate, and significant wood, leading to a rich, medium-length conclusion with notes of shortbread biscuits. July 2020 / August 2022

Initial impressions suggested a light, easy-drinking whiskey. After the bottle was open for about a month, new aromas emerged. On the nose, I detect charred oak and peanut, with a hint of vanilla. The palate reveals a fruity sweetness, reminiscent of apricot and brown sugar, followed by notes of barrel char and spice. On the finish, rye spice is the dominant flavor, with some caramel appearing. The finish is medium-length with a pleasant slow warmth. Overall, quite good for the price; like many spirits, it improves with air exposure in the bottle.

Smells like doughy cinnamon rolls, cherry, and vanilla. Cinnamon roll flavor carries over to the palate. I detect some butterscotch. There’s also some oak tannins. The finish is medium long and full of cinnamon. This is a nice whiskey. It feels a little thin. The flavors are good but I was hoping for something more. There are better bourbons for this price point. EDIT: I’m nearly finished with this bottle. I tried to make the most of it but I’m having to mix it just to get through it. Just not good.

The aroma is quite nice, featuring sweetness alongside vanilla, toffee, oak, and caramel. The initial taste is a little fiery, making it hard to discern specific notes. However, the finish mellows the spice somewhat, revealing hints of oak, tobacco, and leather. It doesn't quite align with the nose for me. I'm undecided about this one and would like to try it again, possibly after it rests a while longer.