J. Mattingly 1845 Private Barrel Select Light Whiskey "Magnitude"

An interesting bottle. Priced at $140, extremely limited, produced in Indiana, and claimed to be "stored in oak for 12 years" while being classified as a light whiskey. All at a 137 proof. Okay, they piqued my interest, so let's investigate what this George Town Kentucky distillery, despite its marketing and lack of history, is doing with what could be a 12-year-old MGP sourced whiskey. Nose - alright, this is wonderful. It features brown sugar, cinnamon apple spices, pipe tobacco, aged, dusty wood (untreated oak), and a finish reminiscent of a pie crust dessert. Taste - the high proof creates a very dry experience, bringing forth notes that strongly align with the nose. More oak is present here, drying and slightly bitter. This is supported by abundant sweetness from vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, apples, and I might even say some honey. Adding a couple of drops of water reduces some of the dryness and bitterness, but the drawback here is that it doesn't provide a particularly mouth-coating, oily sensation, or a truly high-quality sipping experience as a result. I could significantly lower the proof, but at that point, the whiskey would become too light and too thin. The marketing for these is dreadful, the wax topper is among the worst, and well... I'm not a fan of much about it. Even the label was difficult to read, and I overlooked details in the store. Nevertheless, this possesses some incredible flavor, its aroma is amazing, and overall, it gets a 3.75. I would place it alongside an ECBP and expect it to outperform it in every aspect except mouthfeel. edit - I've been sipping this, having tried it a few times now. I'm beginning to detect a clearer note of butterscotch in this one, which I've noticed in other "American" whiskies. It's quite pleasant, but it makes this more distinctly a light whiskey rather than a bourbon. Regardless, I enjoy it, but it's a characteristic I realized I hadn't mentioned earlier and it's a significant distinction, as this flavor doesn't typically emerge as prominently in traditional bourbons.