Hirsch The Horizon Straight Bourbon (Batch AAH0320)

Hirsch The Horizon (A blend of MGP rye mash bills from around 6 years old: 75/21/4 and 60/36/4). APPEARANCE: I appreciate the flask-shaped bottle and the labeling – unique without being gaudy or overly themed. The color is a pleasant burnt orange. NOSE: Cornbread with butter, rye spice, and oak. Primarily savory, but with undertones of vanilla bean and brown sugar. A slight alcohol sting. Merely adequate. NEAT: Significantly sweeter than the aroma suggests. The initial taste is very sweet, with prominent notes of oak, vanilla, and pink bubblegum. Dry cornbread and a tingling rye spice dominate the mid-palate and finish. A decent, developing warmth from Kentucky with heat building at the back of the throat and upper chest. Slightly drying, tannic oak and rye spice coat and layer the palate. WITH A SPLASH: A few drops of water bring about significant changes. The aroma gains a hint of chewable baby aspirin? Rye strongly dominates the palate now. Wintergreen, eucalyptus, clove, black licorice, varnished oak. That taste you get from chewing on the lacing of your baseball glove between pitches. Very intriguing. The coating becomes sweet mint and those edible flowers used as garnish at trendy, hip restaurants. VERDICT: A solid 4 out of 5. Very good. Different. Lingering. Sweet. The aftertaste persists long after the glass is empty. Transforms dramatically with a few drops of water. One of the few bourbons where the taste significantly surpasses the aroma. I knew nothing about this when I spotted it on the shelf, but the label clearly stated the contents, and I felt $40 was a reasonable value for a 6-year-old MGP. I definitely think it fits well alongside some of my other favorite $40 bottles, such as HMcK10, Longbranch, MM46, and Knob Creek. I look forward to exploring this one further and would certainly purchase it again if I encountered it.

Deep amber color. Aroma: ethanol and cherries. First taste: Cherries, caramel, smoky vanilla. Sweet. Effortless to drink with very little burn. After resting: Not much change. Perhaps a bit more cinnamon spice at the end. With water added: The aroma becomes intensely vanilla, and the ethanol vanishes. Notes of black pepper, black tea, and oak with a subtle floral character emerge. I initially thought water would detract from it since it's not particularly spicy to begin with, but it reveals a completely new spectrum of flavors. Less sweet with water. A medium finish with faint toffee notes. Considering the $35 price, this drinks like a much more expensive, aged bourbon. An incredible value at this price point. A solid choice for daily sipping. If you favor spicier, higher-proof bourbons, you might find this a bit subdued, but I feel it possesses just enough spice without being overwhelmingly hot.

Spotted this on a store shelf recently and was curious. After seeing the favorable assessment here, I decided to get it... From the first pour, I'm a fan. It's sweet with a spicy kick. I'll guess this comes from the significant amount of rye in the two mash bills. While I typically don't care for high rye bourbon, this is an exception. It tastes like it costs more than it does. 7/9: A second pour... I like it even more now. What frustrates me when trying new Bourbons is my inability to identify the specific flavors. Perhaps it's the rye/spice... or maybe I secretly enjoy rye. Now, I'm interested in sampling the other Hirsch selections, if I can locate them.

The palate is soft and starts with banana bread, dark chocolate, raw oats, roasted peanuts and slight oak and caramel. It is quite intriguing for a bourbon and very inviting. Each smell leaves you wanting to go in again to decipher what you’re getting. It is reminiscent of a certain distillery’s nuttiness but more roasted, earthier. The palate is just as soft yet fills the mouth with roasted peanuts with a slight rye spiciness tingling the mouth ever so slightly. Not much else comes out other than some subdued oak and vanilla, but is still oddly satisfying to sip on. The finish medium short with the entire palate falling off other than some lingering pepperiness.

First taste from the bottle. It immediately presents with sweet, buttery corn, vanilla, and some fruity notes. The aroma develops into darker caramel, more vanilla, orange, and baking spices. Towards the end, there's a subtle hint of milk chocolate. Taste: Starts with a buttery, corn flavor, transitioning into some alcoholic warmth, vanilla, butterscotch, and finishing with sweet corn and chocolate notes, accompanied by a moderate finish. Subsequent tastings from this freshly opened bottle have been better, with more developed cocoa notes and increased sweetness. This dram has some complexity, though I would prefer a more potent character. Allowing it to breathe will enhance the unique chocolate whiskey experience.

Certainly not bad, but it has an unusual flavor profile. I detect a stale note mixed with fennel seeds, reminiscent of Indian restaurants. There's a bit of burn for 92 proof. Once you adjust your expectations for this experience, it becomes enjoyable. However, if you're seeking a more conventional flavor, this might be unexpected.