Lucky Seven The Holiday Toast

This is Batch 3. It received considerable buzz from several well-known online personalities, piquing my interest enough to spend eighty dollars. The aroma offers no discernible cherry unless one actively searches for it; instead, it's dominated by heavy oak, cinnamon, and alcohol. While clearly bourbon, it leans heavily toward oak and spice with minimal classic aged bourbon characteristics. The taste is complex, featuring spice, richness, and abundant flavors, with pervasive oak notes. However, it lacks genuine age, presenting as superficial oak on a likely spicy bourbon base. It bears some resemblance to recent seven-year-old bourbons from a certain distillery, though that comparison will be explored further. While that particular bourbon is decent, I appreciate when it's finished and I'm glad this isn't simply a double-oaked expression. A spicy bourbon doesn't necessarily benefit from double oaking. The profile includes spice, oak, hints of almond, a barely perceptible vanilla, no caramel, and an odd leather note. I'm conflicted because it's powerful and flavorful, yet I don't find myself enjoying it. I don't dislike it either, and I am engaged by its bold flavors and spices. A score of 2 represents average; 5 is exceptional. This is a 1.0, not great but not a disaster, falling below the average whiskey I prefer or would want produced. While standards may be dropping to meet demand in 2023, this wouldn't have sold well ten years ago. Today, at eighty dollars, it's not the absolute worst, but a bar pour is recommended. Its flavor and strength might justify a purchase for a select few. Perhaps earlier batches were superior? I still don't detect the cherry notes that others mention, despite my fondness for cherry.

The aroma is intensely cherry-like and very appealing. The palate is subtly spicy with noticeable sweetness, again highlighting the cherry notes. The finish is equally satisfying. Despite its high alcohol content, it drinks smoothly. Overall, it's an excellent pour, and I regret not buying another bottle. I'm eager to see how it would fare in a blind tasting against renowned bourbons.

Tasted blind: Lucky Seven Holiday Toast Aroma: baking spices, oak, cinnamon rolls. Taste: Oak, cinnamon, baking spices, peppery, and general baked goods. Finish: All those flavors linger for a while. A very pleasant warmth. Notes of bubble gum. Overall: Really enjoyable and interesting development throughout the glass. Very good. Rating: 4.25/5

Caramel and cinnamon on the nose, with herbal undertones. Palate: Full-bodied and sweet, with notes of black licorice. The proof dominates the mid-palate, but hints of cotton candy and marshmallow can be detected. More cinnamon on the back end, with good body and a medium-length finish featuring red hots.

The nose has a very dark sweetness, almost like a finished product. Similar taste with bold flavors, bordering on a finished profile. Very nice, dark, oak is noticeable but not overpowering. Corn flavor still comes through the other notes. Excellent.

Imagine combining rubbing alcohol with an old oak barrel and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and you'd capture the flavor. I'm not a fan.