Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon (Whiskey & Barrel Nite Private Barrel)

A sample from a friend as part of the "Whiskey Transfer Program". This is a high-proof Binny's barrel pick that was not finished, unlike the typical Magnus products. Smell: Very subtle sweet notes of caramelized sugar and woody cedar. Also a hint of pine. More is present but doesn't fully come through until the first taste. Taste: Incredible. This is complex. Vanilla, caramel, nougat, toasted nuts, dark chocolate, light dried fruits. It genuinely tastes like a dark chocolate Snickers bar. Rich, oily, and buttery. Finish: A long, drying finish that surprisingly ends sweet. More Snickers bar flavors with nougat, caramel, and toasted nuts. A light woody note at the end. Truly one of the finest bourbons I've sampled. A shame it's no longer available once consumed.

The aroma is rich and intricate, featuring notes of aged caramel, crisp peanut butter, intense vanilla, toffee, and mixed spice, along with unexpected hints of a chocolate bar and nougat. The initial taste is sweet and nutty, with flavors of milk chocolate, raisins, English toffee, molasses, and honey-sweetened peanut butter. The middle palate reveals caramelized sugars, toasted marshmallow, slightly burnt buttered popcorn, hints of chocolate with an orange zest, and a mildly bitter, spicy caramel that truly saturates the tongue. The finish offers caramel, toasted nuts, tobacco leaf, and a light char from the barrel. It's a beautifully sweet, intricate, and moderately spiced bourbon. This particular bottle comes from a specific store selection in Chicago. It's an unadulterated, 8-9 year old straight bourbon, bottled at a robust 60.7% ABV.

Consumed neat. A store selection. The aroma is powerful. This is one to sit with and analyze. Lots of oak. Cacao. Baking spice. Vanilla. Caramel. Buttery corn. Some pleasant fruit, cherry. It truly hits every note on the flavor wheel the more you explore it. Likely one of the most impactful first impressions on the nose I can recall. Hard to believe this is 122 proof too. I can delve deep and experience no burn. A nice creamy mouthfeel; sugar and cinnamon strike the palate. Waves of flavors on the taste. It's exceptionally good. Chocolate and oak at the front, yielding to abundant vanilla. Vanilla gives way to spice on the legs. The legs go on for miles. Returning to the nose after a few sips. A nutty note emerges, and that vanilla becomes more prominent. This is a treat.

Nose (4.5): Cocoa and peanut brittle on the nose, reminiscent of a Heath bar. Made me want more. Palate (4.75): Excellent complexity. Heath bar notes continue with pleasant spices. Leathery tones and a hint of cigar box. It offers traditional flavors with tremendous additional layers. Finish: (4.75) Lingers for a long time. Nice warmth that concludes with a puff of sweet smokiness. Exceptionally well-executed.

Prohibition selection Nose: Caramel, vanilla, ethanol, cherries Palate: Thin. An explosion of cinnamon and cherry, like Ludens/cough syrup but not excessively medicinal Finish: Heavy oak char and cinnamon Good if you desire a sherry finish.

A pleasant aroma and flavor of nuttiness, similar to walnuts, with hints of chocolate and English toffee. A welcome change from the usual vanilla and caramel notes found in most bourbons...really excellent stuff!!