Kings County Straight Bourbon

The local store had a bottle of this on the clearance shelf for $9.99... I mean, isn't that a no-brainer? Anyway, what do we have here... a nice ruddy amber pour with a surprisingly dry, leathery, woody nose... hints of fruit, but there's a lot of fresh oak present. It's a pleasant bourbon that smells like it has more age than I anticipate. The flavor is a bit light and doesn't quite live up to the nose. It's sweet and fruity, but still has some "wet" wood notes throughout... but while the nose suggests some age, the flavor feels much younger, though not in a negative way. There's also plenty of the expected vanilla. It drinks hotter than its ABV... this is an excellent pour for the price I paid, but would have significantly less value at the manufacturer's suggested retail price for me personally. Regardless, it's a pleasant sipper that would appeal to most bourbon drinkers, including those new to the category.

Color: Very deep amber. Smell: Cherries, red apples, raisins, and currants. Fresh, fruity, and tart with a subtle lingering note of dried leather and freshly cut hardwood. Taste: Soft marshmallows and creamy manuka honey greet you, while rich molasses and delicate vanilla remain. Finish: A bit young, but compensates with vigor. Sweet and hot, like pancakes drenched in maple syrup. With Water Added: The aroma becomes more vegetal, with mint and tobacco appearing, while the taste unfortunately only weakens. The finish develops a distinctly mineral character with a splash of water -- avoid adding water to this.

Flaviar 03/22 Blind Test C - [ ] The pour is pleasant and smooth - no bubbles - [ ] The color is a very dark amber. - [ ] The aroma is subtle, yet full of vanilla and ginger - [ ] The taste is intensely vanilla - extremely smooth. Hints of butterscotch and mellow nutty and toffee notes are present - [ ] Upon revealing the spirit, I mistook the STRONG butterscotch flavor for vanilla. Fruit and apple are indeed present. This whiskey was my favorite of the three. Very sweet with a touch of apple and chocolate - [ ] 4.25

A complex Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, New York, crafted with local organic corn & UK malted barley. It's twice distilled using copper pot stills and matured in new charred American Oak barrels. It starts with a bitter introduction, hints of smoke, vanilla, and caramel; followed by a bold, spicy character with notes of vanilla, cinnamon, fruit, and butterscotch; concluding with a quick, drying finish featuring apple and chocolate notes. January 2020 / August 2022

Vanilla and frosting on the nose. Butterscotch and cinnamon are apparent on the palate. The cinnamon lingers through the finish as the tastes fade into apple and eventually chocolate. A well-balanced whisky. I'm unsure if I would pay $70 for it, but it was nice in the sample pack.

Purchased a 375 mL bottle at Belmont Bev on 23rd and Cleveland for $35. Incredibly deep and rich flavor. Nose is bitter, spicy, and young. Taste is deeply vanilla with cinnamon, butterscotch, and apple. Short finish.