Lucky 7 "The Hold-Up"

Appearance- Dark Amber, with numerous thin, slow-moving legs. It coats the glass with a nice, thicker film. Taste- 2 oz neat in a glen cairn glass, then 2 drops of water. Nose- Banana and raisin are immediately apparent, followed by plum, molasses, and oak. A pleasant, fragrant aroma. Palate- Layers of orchard fruits (perhaps ripe red apple?), chewy caramel, burnt brown sugar, and raisins. Water reveals some floral notes in the background. Finish: Banana and browned butter are dominant, followed by baking spices and a touch of dry oaky heat. It's warming and long; perhaps a bit too hot and dry when neat, but a couple of drops smoothed out that flaw sufficiently. Overall- Initially, I was doubtful due to the price and the marketing – the peculiar focus on Hollywood's golden age and the "Lucky Stage 7" at Warner Bros. I worried it might be another hyped, gimmick-driven product like the Star Trek bottling from Silverscreeen bottling Company or the recent Terry Bradshaw bottle. I can honestly say it is not. This is a genuinely good bottle of Kentucky Straight Bourbon, aged 12 years and nicely batched. It's rumored to be from Barton (known for 1792 and many other fine spirits!), but the label states "Distilled and Bottled at Lucky 7 Spirits, Bardstown KY." I highly doubt they've been distilling their own and aging it for 12 years, and the distinct banana aroma and notes throughout lead me to believe the Barton rumors are more credible. A 6-year version is available for about a third of the price. Its strengths lie in its numerous flavor layers and very pleasant aroma. The weakness might be an overly hot and dry finish for a 100 proof spirit. Overall, I wouldn't dismiss this one. It's a welcome surprise.

Quite harsh for a 12-year-old bourbon. It has a spiciness upfront that persists even with two drops of water. Most of the flavors are at the back of the mouth, primarily brown sugar and oak with some banana.

The aroma is very weak but smells of vanilla ice cream with caramel; the taste is light with notes of caramel and subtle oak

Some really enjoyable notes. For the cost, I would prefer to get 1792 12 year.

Outstanding!