Lazy River Kentucky Straight Bourbon

A person I know has a spouse who is somewhat notorious for not following through on promises. It's a recurring joke that can lead to laughter, eye-rolls, heavy sighs, or outright frustration and arguments. After sending her to a liquor store with instructions to get either Green Spot or Redbreast 12 (you never know what's in stock these days...), we were surprised by what she brought back. How did Lazy River Bourbon end up replacing our preferred Green Spot or Redbreast 12?! (This is why you shouldn't ask for assistance at that specific liquor store unless you know precisely the bottle you want. If you accept their help, they'll steer you toward some house brand nonsense they claim is identical to what you're asking for, but it's almost always nothing like it and overpriced for its quality. The upside to visiting that store is that if you do find what you're looking for, it's usually a few dollars cheaper than elsewhere.) So, since Lazy River Bourbon is what we have, let's assess it.... After some online searching, very little information surfaces about this bourbon. It's produced in Kentucky and bottled in Fairfield, CA, at 45% ABV. Frank-Lin Distillers doesn't even list it on their product page - what's the story? It was formerly aged for 4 years, but a spirits database indicates it's now NAS, which doesn't inspire confidence. My acquaintance's spouse paid $30. Was it $30 too much? Nose: The ethanol burn is overwhelming, masking the sweet corn and vanilla beneath. Even after letting it sit, it remains sharp. The corn transforms into cornbread and cold, vanilla-infused marshmallows meant for rice krispie treats that have sat too long. A hint of muddled spice. Unlike the two Irish spirits I mentioned earlier, there's significant heat, little balance, and no fruitiness or other complexity. Palate: Thankfully, not as much heat as I had feared. The mouthfeel is a bit softer than expected - likely a low rye mash bill, perhaps some wheat? I don't know of any distillers who use wheat in their mash bills that would offload this, so I'm leaning towards low rye. It possesses a cheap toffee sweetness (I call it cheap because it lacks the rich, decadent, buttery sweetness found in quality toffee). There's an off-putting element in the mid-palate reminiscent of very raw peanuts. Not the musty peanut shells found in some other brands, but something greener or less ripe. There's a brief surge of spice, but it lacks the duration or intensity I'd prefer, and there's a complete absence of fruitiness or other flavor notes. Simply put, this is sweet, vanilla-infused heat with a bit of barrel and spice. Finish: Medium in length, with considerable heat on the return. The sweetness persists, along with woody dryness and some barrel char. Conclusion: This isn't terrible, and it certainly wasn't a $30 mistake, but honestly, it's a rather uninspired bourbon. Excessive heat and a lack of complexity or character. I imagine it would be perfectly acceptable served over ice in the summer, but I doubt it would hold up in a cocktail, and I find it boring neat. I'm glad it's 45% ABV, because any lower and you might struggle to identify it. I'm undecided between a 3.0 (it's quite average, 75+) and 2.75 (it's also rather dull),

Rating: 10/23 Allowed it to rest. Nose: Apples, mild caramel, sweet grain, sour mash, minerals, spices (cinnamon). It's an acceptable nose, but uninspired. Palate: Sweet, with somewhat light caramel and hints of butterscotch. Cinnamon, mineral, a touch of tartness, and faint grain. However, the mineral is too dominant and the flavors are too subdued. Nothing tastes unpleasant, though. Finish: The mineral notes become more pronounced here, and the cinnamon heat lingers. Faint traces of caramel and grain remain. Not actively bad, but certainly not good. This is not a bad bourbon by any means. There's nothing objectionable about it, but there's also nothing commendable. It's not engaging, rich, or much of anything else. Evan Williams White and Ezra Brooks are both richer, and neither is what I'd call a truly rich whiskey. Evan Williams White is also more intricate and interesting. Personally, I prefer the more candy-like character of Ancient Age, but I can certainly see why someone might prefer this profile. I believe its quality is quite close to that of Early Times. When compared to those other bourbons, I feel it deserves a 10 or 11. I'll settle on 10, the same score I gave Early Times. It's simply not worth $30.

A store employee, likely trying to move inventory, persuaded me to get this. I was told it was a product from Bardstown Bourbon, specifically the rye mash bill, not the wheated Bottled-in-Bond that gets so much attention. However, since I haven't tried the Origin series or had confirmation, I can't draw a comparison. I can say it's pretty average, perhaps even dull, leaning towards musty/funky. The aroma of corn is faint, and the finish is best described as barely there, quickly disappearing. It serves well enough as a mixer, or for those nights when I prefer not to open my best bottles but still want something available. It's also suitable for serving bourbon on ice to someone who just wants "a damn drink, who cares, I don't give a rat's ass!" It's that sort of bottle. I don't regret the purchase, except for the money that could have been spent elsewhere, but I won't be buying it again. On a related note: I generally enjoy BBC fusion quite a lot.

Sampled this straight and with a tiny bit of ice. I'd skip the ice; it didn't enhance the flavors, and there wasn't a huge flavor burst to begin with. It just added water. Nose: Fruit, sugary, aromatic spice. Palate: Lacking complexity or development. Sweetness like honey, a touch of wood, spice notes of cinnamon, some rye character present but not dominant. Finish: Short to moderate duration, cinnamon and woody dryness persist. Overall: Decent, but I wouldn't repurchase. Better value exists for the cost.

Drinking neat. The aroma is vibrant with light brown sugar, honey, mild wood, some spice and alcohol. The initial taste is light and fairly vibrant. It expands on the nose's notes of light sugars and honey, wood, vanilla, and alcohol, with faint grass/hay, general baking spices, moderate sourness, which lasts through the finish along with some lightly toasted cocoa. Overall fairly mild and much more complex after it sits. Better as the glass/bottle empties.

The aroma initially presents as Everclear with sharp, vivid notes, then transitions to pleasant evergreen, dry corn, and brown sugar, cotton candy flavors. The taste mirrors the aroma, characterized by brightness, youthfulness, and sap, followed by honey sweetness. The conclusion is bitter, eventually shifting to sweetness. The theme of this spirit is a harsh beginning concealed by a sweet facade. I cannot endorse it.