Henry McKenna Straight Bourbon

N: A lot of mineral notes from limestone. It's a light aroma that seems watery. I also detect plenty of barrel spice, along with some faint, musty corn. Hints of tangerine. It's a rather unexciting, watery nose. Not bad, but definitely bottom-shelf material. P: Watery with minerals. It's thin, but there's some pleasant corn sweetness that shifts into slightly undercooked caramel with intriguing herbaceous notes that aren't too bitter. There's a good amount of barrel spice that isn't as overpowering as anticipated. Ginger, cinnamon, clove. It's actually a fairly sweet palate and is easy to drink, though there's some spicy heat from the barrel spices. Oh, there's a significant vanilla presence here. It's nice. It doesn't dominate and blends naturally with the wood. F: Lingering sweet corn coated in light caramel with subtle herbaceous complexities. The barrel spices surface occasionally, but mostly provide a pleasant tingle. A subtle layer of thin vanilla remains underneath it all. - Conclusion - There's actually a good deal to appreciate here. I'm finding some nice complexity without any bitter notes from over-aging or strange vegetal or chemical flavors from under-aging. This is certainly not a mature, contemplative drink, but it's reasonably complex and very approachable. The spices are a bit intense for the 40% ABV, but the level is appropriate. The issue is that the rest of it is thinner. Perhaps diluting it to 40% ABV was a good decision to prevent the spices from becoming too dominant. It might be a little too pricey for a cheap mixer and a bit too mellow for a more expensive one, but it's genuinely not bad. No shame in keeping this one on hand. Evan Williams Bottled In Bond (/23) is bolder and fuller with more peanut flavor, but also significantly more ethanol and burn. This is more approachable and easy sipping, and also more complex. They are quite close in quality, though. I might rate this higher, but I would likely repurchase the Evan Williams because it's probably better for mixing, and I don't drink spirits neat unless I'm reviewing (and it's at least decent). Evan Williams 1783 (11/23) is more mature with pleasant sweet vanilla, toffee sweetness, and wood. I believe the Evan Williams 1783 is the clear winner here. I might have rated it a bit low at 11/23. This will be a 10 or 11. The main consideration is whether the positive aspects of the Evan Williams Bottled In Bond outweigh its drawbacks enough to make it superior to this. I'm leaning towards this being an 11.

Pours a deep amber-gold. It's not very leggy until you add a little water. The aroma is quite spicy and peppery. The cinnamon suggests a good amount of rye. A second wave brings lacquered wood and a hint of varnish. The barrel char is ashy and complements the peanut dust that finishes it off. The taste is cinnamon spice and red pepper flakes, leaving a nice little burn on the palate. The barrel resins give it a prickly, piney character. The middle of the swallow has salted toffee and rich butterscotch hard candy. Diluting it a bit brings out cherry and orange rind. It finishes with red and black pepper heat; the spices linger on the tongue long after swallowing. Dark chocolate, charcoal ash, bitter toffee, and coffee grounds. The end is orange zest, ribbon candy, and cinnamon candies. The finish lingers longer than I expected. This Bourbon offers a lot of peppery spice, finished wood, and charcoal ash. It's very well balanced between spicy and woody, with both elements complementing each other. For $15, this is an absolute bargain: neat, on the rocks, or mixed.

Nose: Subtle wood and grass on top, with hints of caramel and brown sugar. Palate: Oak that tastes watered down, some nuttiness, and the same faint vanilla sweetness towards the end. Finish: Brief, slightly astringent, and fades quickly. At 80 proof, it's a viable choice on the bottom shelf. This bourbon lacks depth in both body and flavor variety. It's acceptable, but better choices exist for both neat pours and cocktails.

NOSE: Features alcohol, sharp vanilla, grass, honey, burnt grain, a hint of mustiness, and butterscotch. MOUTHFEEL: Slightly velvety texture. TASTE: Caramel, earthy honey, butter, and brown sugar. FINISH: Brief, with grassy notes, subtle oak, and alcohol. This is not the absolute worst bourbon I've encountered, but I won't be purchasing it again. It's simply average.

A somewhat sweet, musty scent on the nose with a faint trace of mint. The flavor has a strong artificial taste that leaves a bad aftertaste. No sweetness or heat on the palate, it was a total letdown! I'll never consume this again... however, my friend's Henry McKenna 10 year remains a top pick!

This is very sweet. I detect a slight nuttiness alongside plenty of vanilla, caramel, and corn. There's just a hint of something medicinal. Not too spicy. The finish is short with no bitter aftertaste. This is a great bourbon for the price, but only okay for sipping.