Lone Whisker 12 Year Straight Bourbon

As a 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon blend of 74% corn, 21% rye, and 5% malted barley, with 93.8 proof, Lone Whisker pours golden amber and delivers all the bold flavor notes and understated nuance you would expect from a high-end bottle. Each sip uncovers the increasing complexity of a master craftsmanship, led by a respected producer. The aroma: Initial bright citrus notes of orange fade quickly to reveal underlying toast and chocolate. The taste: Be prepared for smooth spices and oak, along with lingering darker fruits and the promise of dark chocolate from the aroma fulfilled in the finish, as balanced as it is bold. There is a noticeable warmth from start to finish that brings each phase of flavor into refined focus of depth and distinction, each note tasted as if played as a scale ascending to meet the root note of the major chord shimmering softly behind it all. This is sipping whiskey to be savored at leisure and in good company.

Wow, let's start with that. The aroma is incredible with rich caramel and butterscotch, yet not even a hint of alcohol at 93.8 proof. As I smell this, I start to research it. It's a 12-year-old high rye (21%) MGP bourbon. The company's address is in the same industrial park as Boone County distillery, which also has a connection to MGP. So the lineage is pretty much the same as Boone County 1833 and even the same age as one I tried a couple of years ago. While 1833 was a higher proof, I expect this to be similar, and it is. The aroma is very complex with butterscotch and caramel, green apples and cinnamon. Nice. Great mouthfeel and flavors that match the aroma. A long-lasting spicy finish. This is a great bourbon, but would I pay $150-250? 1833 was $70 and slightly better.

Neat. First pour from the bottle. The aroma is light and bright. The age is only subtly suggested at the end of the aroma. Caramel and butterscotch. A hint of spearmint. A hint of apple or even pear as well. Oily texture despite the lower proof. Apple, sugar, and cinnamon on the tongue. Vanilla shifts to butterscotch in the taste, with lingering oak and cherry. Vanilla and cherry remain with a noticeable sweetness in the legs. I was anticipating an experience similar to Boone County 1833, but it's quite different. The oak is less prominent, and the sweetness is amplified. It might be the sweetest bourbon I've had. It's truly delicious!

Nose: A blend of cream, fruit, and cocoa. Palate: Oily and unmistakably MGP, with subtle oak, more fruit and cream. Hints of citrus and floral notes emerge. Extended enjoyment reveals developing rye spices. It's exceptionally smooth with no harshness. Silky. Finish: Honey, additional citrus, and some dark chocolate are present. No warming sensation. Consistently smooth. Outstanding. This spirit unfolds like a three-act production. It's exceptionally good and, as I discovered, quite rare, with annual production limited to 2000 bottles released yearly at a $150 MSRP.

A friend's post is accurate. I suggest trying this bourbon if you can locate it. This is a truly limited production (supposedly 2000 bottles annually). It's priced on the higher end, likely due to the limited production run. Ultimately, whether it's worth it is subjective. If you're seeking the best bourbon at a reasonable price... this probably isn't your purchase. If you want an interesting bottle for your collection with really good bourbon inside, and you can spend around $200... this is one to consider.

Nutty beginning. A touch of cinnamon and other spices from a grandparent's spice rack. A very smooth finish.