King's Creek Black Label Tennessee Whiskey

Rating: 9/23 Nose: Dry and woody with a faint vanilla sweetness, a hint of orange oil, and distant creosote. It's mellow with good balance and maturity. It also smells robust for only 40% ABV. Palate: Ah, this is less intense than the aroma suggested. And it's hotter too. There are plenty of spices along with wood, but the wood is fairly mature and carries hints of creosote. I'm detecting cloves leading into black pepper, with some cinnamon and ginger. Beneath all that, there's vanilla and a little green banana sweetness. There's also a clean water flavor and a hint of limestone. It's all quite pleasant, except for the low proof. Still, the palate is not bad. Finish: Clean with lingering spices and wood, as well as green banana, vanilla, and a hint of Laffy Taffy. - Conclusion - Surprisingly, despite the bold wood, there are never excessive tannins. It's a nice profile overall, but it's too weak. Nothing particularly exciting is happening here, but it could be sipped. Evan Williams Bottled In Bond (10/23) is bolder and sweeter, but much hotter, with more pepper and less maturity. This is more subtle and refined. The two are quite close, but this Evan Williams sip was the last one from a bottle that had been open for a couple of months, so the oxidation likely aided it considerably. Earl Settler (10/23) tastes less mature, but it possesses a richer, fuller flavor, with spices, wood, banana, and vanilla coming through nicely. Given that this is all in the mixing range, I'm pretty certain I'd choose the Earl Settler. Still, I'll be judging based on sippability. The alcohol is a bit strong here. The Sexton (9/23) has more going on and is richer, but it's much rougher around the edges. Still, I believe it might be closer to this than the Earl Settler is. I think this is getting a 9, unfortunately.

There's a significant divergence between the aroma and the flavor profile. The nose is predominantly fruity, with banana and apple notes, so sweet it smells like candy. It's not unpleasant, but not much else is apparent. There's a floral hint, but it requires effort to detect. The palate, however, offers a very deep caramel flavor. Some oak emerges, particularly on the finish, where a surprising amount of proof is noticeable in this low-proof bourbon. Something about it tastes off. I would not have this again, even if offered.

A robust Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey crafted from a mash bill predominantly corn, with some rye and barley. It undergoes slow filtration through charcoal maple chips and is aged for at least four years in new, charred American oak barrels before being bottled at 80 proof. It begins aromatically with notes of grain, wood, and spice; its complex character develops notes of corn, caramel, cinnamon, and oak; culminating in a rich, medium-length finish. December 2021 / August 2022 / July 2023 / February 2025

Unbelievable, no. This is a Total Wine brand that's just a cash grab. It's terrible. I'd rather drink cough syrup. The aroma is the best part. However, the taste and finish are medicinal. The finish is a purgatory of smoke, burn, and dirt. Please, keep your money or buy a JB or Forester, which are vastly superior to this disastrous whisky. This is the only bottle I've ever poured out.

The aroma evokes a dusty old bookstore with its treasures, featuring notes of pumpkin patch corn pit, lemon zest, and sweet caramel candy. The palate is straightforward with red apple and orange citrus notes. The finish is short and syrupy. It's neither great nor bad.

This appears to be another brand affiliated with Total Wine, as they were heavily promoting it. It has only a four-year age statement. Surprisingly, it's not too shabby. It offers many pleasant, sweet caramel, cake, and subtle berry notes, with some leathery tobacco on the finish.