J.R. Ewing Bourbon

NOSE Floral, butterscotch, oak, nutmeg, vanilla cake, and herbal scents. It's delicate, floral, and not entirely unified. There's a slight issue here. It feels disjointed and doesn't remind me of any particular distillery. PALATE Butterscotch, oak, nutmeg, yellow cake, a hint of soap, herbal, and fruity notes. A floral note in J.R. Ewing Private Reserve Bourbon fluctuates in intensity, which keeps confusing me, and I'm not enjoying it... at all. FINISH Briefly, caramel, floral, and fruity notes quickly fade to a metallic nuttiness.

Drinking observations: using a glencairn glass, neat, at room temperature. No ice or water was added. Smell: Entirely sugary. Just sweetness on the nose. Perhaps vanilla? Not very intricate. Taste: Watery, even for 80 proof. It remains on the sweet side. Maybe a faint hint of vanilla, but it's subtle. Lacking substance. Likely a suitable whiskey for guests or beginners. Aftertaste: Fleeting. Doesn't linger at all.

Feels "thin" generally. First tried it neat. It smelled vegetal on the nose and had a taste led by rye/grain, finishing quickly. I added a standard ice cube to about two shots of this spirit, and the flavor improved: subtle hints of vanilla and cocoa powder, smooth... still a quick finish. I'll only buy this once because better options exist at this price.

[02.08.2017] It's tolerable if it's free. I passed up many usual choices to try this and cross it off my list at a bar with poor service and loud music in Madison, WI. It was smooth and mostly tasteless, like taking good corn whiskey, diluting it with tap water, and aging it briefly in a used barrel. Don't bother.

Sampled in the Glencairn glass. Overpoweringly floral and chemical. Seriously tasted bad. Like crayons. Unfortunately, no negative stars. Two months later. In a red plastic cup. Vastly improved. Actually drinkable. I'm not sure how to react. No, it gets a two-star rating.

I was surprised by the low ratings. It's not amazing, but I had a great time with a whole bottle and some good conversation with friends. I'm unsure if I would purchase it again, but I can't say I disliked it.