Kirkland 7 Year Small Batch Tennessee Bourbon

Kirkland 7yr TN Straight Bourbon Whiskey *NOSE: My initial pour into a regular Rocks Glass revealed prominent Cascade Hollow scents. Using a Glencairn showed more complexity: Corn Dust, Maple, Burnt Sugars, Citrus Spice, and Cinnamon. *NEAT: A rich Coating Mouthfeel presents Cinnamon, Molasses, Maple, Oaky Barnyard Funk, accompanied by a Persistent Tingling Heat. It drinks like its 102 Proof, possibly more. A pleasant warmth spreads through the chest with Oak Funk and Cinnamon lingering on the palate. *SPLASH: Adding a little water imparts a typical Fruit Cocktail note reminiscent of older Dickel Whiskies. The Oak's Funk diminishes, gaining some Tannic Bitterness. ICE highlights the distinctive Vitamin aroma associated with Dickel. *VERDICT: Without question, this is sourced from Dickel, its profile clearly indicating "CASCADE HOLLOW". However, there's a notable difference. This expression is Oakier/Funkier with more Cinnamon than standard offerings. Is it the higher proof? The absence of LCP? Barrel strategy? It resembles a blend of Dickel (Fruit and Maple), 1792 (Cinnamon Heat), and Wild Turkey (Barnyard Funk). While many seek the Kirkland Barton sourced versions, this one deserves attention. A delicious 7 Year Old 102 proof versatile bourbon for $30 a Full Liter. An outstanding deal, in my opinion.

A Tennessee Distilling product. First taste, neat. My expectations might have been too high based on my experiences finding excellent products at Costco and the Whisky Advocate's 91-point rating displayed on the neck label. An initial wave of nail polish on the nose, followed by a lot of wood and leather. Beneath that, there were some dark fruit notes. Any sweetness present was almost like ketchup. The ethanol taste was very prominent, with spice and a hint of vanilla. Rye spice and oak with a brief dry finish. Allowing it to rest improved the balance, revealing cherry and caramel on the palate with less burn. A little water truly opened it up. I anticipate this will be more enjoyable on ice, and as I consume more of the bottle, it should also perform well as a mixer.

Deep gold with hints of red brick. Clearly shows rye and a touch of mustiness. Subtle herbaceous qualities of eucalyptus or rosemary. Corn stands out the most. Overly aggressive ethanol presence. Lacks refinement... Remarkable sweetness lingers on the palate. Flavors of chocolate, barrel, corn, toasted coconut, and almond milk. The aroma has too much ethanol, yet it's still pleasant. A truly exceptional value.

Sampled neat in a Glencairn glass at home. Grateful for the bottle from Randy B. (writing this before tasting). Nose presents spice-forward notes, with some vanilla and woody characteristics emerging. Perhaps a little stale. The taste is herbaceous and astringent, thin and overloaded with ethanol, accompanied by dust and tree bark. Absolutely not. It's drinkable, but only just barely. 2/13/2020.

A friend gifted this for my birthday, unaware of its existence. A liter of 7-year, 103 proof bourbon for under $30 - incredible value. It's excellent for mixing and quite good neat; a superior spirit. If only it were available in Ohio! Batch T-1796

Smell: vanilla, cedar, a hint of maple. Taste: buttered popcorn! A burst of butter and popcorn... then rye spice. Lingering taste is medium and frankly the least impressive part of this dram... quite peculiar. Generally okay... will let it rest and try again. Uncertain about my feelings towards it.