James Ownby Reserve Tennessee Straight Bourbon

This is an amazing, creamy caramel and vanilla explosion! It's incredibly silky throughout the entire sip and taste. Notes of vanilla and caramel (like vanilla cake), blended with cinnamon spice and nutmeg. It evokes the feeling of a delicious slice of warm pumpkin pie spice cake! Unsurprisingly, it's smooth and silky from beginning to end. The flavor leaves a comfortably warm sensation on the middle of my tongue, extending towards the top of my throat, yet it's not at all overwhelming, intrusive, or unpleasant. As someone accustomed to Kentucky bourbon, this is a remarkable find that's worth seeking out for future enjoyment! To me, this represents the ideal outcome of charcoal mellowing for a bourbon/whiskey.

I decided to try this, figuring why not. I've previously enjoyed their blue flame, blackberry, and peach varieties, so I assumed this would be comparable, right? Incorrect, it's significantly superior. This is a surprisingly delightful bourbon. It has abundant burnt sugar, caramel, and rich, enjoyable sweetness with a persistent candied sugar finish. This bourbon undergoes the Lincoln County process (similar to JD and some other imitations), yet still achieves an impressive 94 proof. As mentioned, it's a very sweet but well-balanced bourbon that truly stands out from a distillery typically known for clear, inexpensive party spirits. I'm pleased I had the opportunity to sample it.

NOSE: Caramel, oak, herbal notes, and baking spice with hints of vanilla, copper, and dried fruit. It smells quite pleasant; not heavy or deep, but entirely agreeable. PALATE: Caramel, watery wood (like a chewed toothpick), dried corn, herbal notes, baking spice, and bits of citrus peel, copper, and dried fruit. Not nearly as good as the aroma, but still quite tasty despite tasting a bit raw and 'toothpicky.' FINISH: Medium, with dried corn, vanilla, wood, and a bit of spice and minerality.

This Tennessee Straight Bourbon, bottled by Gatlinburg’s Ole Smoky Distillery, is named in honor of James Ownby, the fifth-generation great-grandfather of Ole Smoky founder Joe Baker. The nose presents notes of honey, brown sugar, oak, cocoa, tobacco, and subtle hints of apples and peaches. The initial taste is light and sweet, leading into a spicy clove and cinnamon kick with underlying notes of honey, vanilla, and baking chocolate. The finish is long, dry, and leaves a lingering spiciness.

While not bad as a Tennessee whiskey, it's labeled as bourbon and will be judged as such. It's sweet with vanilla and burnt sugar flavors, lacking complexity. That burnt sugar lingers at the end, but at 90 proof, the charcoal filtering prevents it from being overly harsh. It's superior to Jack Daniels but falls short when compared to entry-level bourbon.

Damn, this goes down smooth like a slip 'n slide on a summer day. Tastes of brown sugar and vanilla, with a bit of a kick at the end that lets you know it's overproof. I'm enjoying this, but as always, don't take my word for it or anyone else's. Sample it yourself and form your own opinion. Cheers