Lonehand Whiskey

The nose presents toffee and nuts (almonds and pecans) with a hint of rye and floral minerality. The palate is very mineral-forward with floral notes, tasting young and like stale bread. There are some vegetal qualities giving it a tequila-like profile, somewhat reminiscent of Herradura. Fortunately, there's some sweetness from the caramel, and it's not overly sickly sweet or fruity, which is a positive. It seems to have attempted a difficult flavor combination but managed it respectably. It's very grassy but shows some age, though not much. It tastes significantly worse than Evan Williams Black, which at least genuinely tastes like corn-based whiskey that has aged. This tastes much younger, and also somewhat like tequila, so it could pass as an overly bourbony addition to a tequila cocktail if needed. Hints of banana suggest significant toasting, but they aren't overpowering. This isn't a complete failure, but it costs more than Evan Williams and isn't as good. Tasting it neat reveals that it tastes quite young (certainly under 2 years old), which is a major drawback for a whiskey. The flavor quality and aging are comparable to Jim Beam Original, but it tastes less like bourbon and more like tequila, earning it a slightly lower score. The caramel flavor is too light and is overshadowed by the burnt grass taste.

All in all, this is a pretty standard whiskey, quite similar to Jack Daniels No. 7. The nose carries the scent of the grainy mash, which has a sour aroma with a hint of sweetness, as the name suggests. A pleasant vanilla taste comes through during the drink. Considering the price of $28.99 for a 1.75L bottle, compared to $34.99 for a 1.75L bottle of Jack Daniels, it's a great value. Like Jack, I wouldn't prefer to drink it neat, but it's a decent option for mixed drinks.

The aroma hits with super glue or adhesive fumes, then offers a second chance with artificial cherry, like in Twizzlers. The taste starts watery and unpleasant but thankfully improves towards the finish, though not significantly. The finish is sharp but muted; it leaves you wishing for a better whiskey. I put the rest of my drink into some eggnog, hoping that would help. *sips* Yes, it did the trick.

For what it costs, it's acceptable. I'd heard it resembled Jack Daniels, which was my frame of reference, but to my palate, it's nothing like it. That's not a criticism, just not what I was anticipating. It's quite smooth for a $12 whiskey; you get notes of cinnamon and vanilla, plus an odd, indistinct grain character that persists.

This is a delicate sour mash whiskey crafted in Tennessee. It's filtered through maple charcoal and aged on oak. It begins softly with notes of vanilla and caramel, becomes rich during its life with oak undertones, and concludes with a quick and sweet finish. Dates: June / November 2018 / February / June 2019 / August 2022

I didn't have high expectations. This must be Jack Daniels distillate because the banana laffy taffy note is present, but it's a subtle hint of Tennessee whiskey due to the low proof and very young age. It has that typical young bitter finish, but it's far better than swill like Old Thompson.