Lucky Seven The Proprietor Single Barrel 14 Year

I enjoy blind tastings. They really remove any prior assumptions about age, buzz, and branding. This was sent to me, marked only as 131.7 ABV. That's close to hazmat level, so I knew I'd need to add some water. I did try a sip without water, but it was just too potent. I had to dilute. A teaspoon of water, and this dances with aromas of oak and oranges. Taste is marshmallows, orange, chocolate. Wow, it’s damn good. The finish just lingers. Definitely a bourbon. And I can rule out anything from TN. Of course that leaves wide open all the rest of the US. With that heft and oak, my first guess would be Balcones. But no… this has elegance like a certain actor while Balcones is dirty pretty like another actor. I don’t think it’s Balcones. Something older. Am I tasting a George T Stagg? I’ve never had a BTAC, so I don’t know. But I would imagine a BTAC might be silkier. So… probably not. But who knows. Okay…final guess. Barrell Bourbon… like the Grey Label. Checks off the boxes: bourbon, oak driven, elegant, older. Peel back the label… and whoa. What is a Lucky Seven 14 yr old? Never heard of it till today, but a quick google search showed me I clearly slept on this one when it came out. Apparently was well received in the market. Thanks again to my friend!

Aroma - abundant dark fruits, toasted marshmallow, caramel, and oak. Each time I revisit it, I'm astonished by the significant dark fruit and marshmallow presence. As it opens up, I detect chocolate-covered oranges, fruity cereal, and some baking spices in the background that provide balance. One of the best-smelling whiskeys I've encountered. Taste - Well, isn't that just incredibly pleasant. It mirrors the nose. Alcohol-soaked berries, marshmallow, with faint hints of chocolate. Caramel syrup (like topping for ice cream). The mouthfeel is superb, coating the entire palate, and the finish is exactly what you'd expect for such a decadent whiskey. The finish is long, beginning sweet before the alcohol warmth emerges, reminding you to savor it. Overall - Absolutely worth the cost. I should have purchased it when I had the opportunity. Deeply thankful to a friend who shared this dram with me.

The aroma presents dark cherry syrup, caramel, cinnamon, and antique wood furniture. It has a surprisingly smooth entry on the palate given the proof; I don't feel the need to add water. It's thick, rich, and decadent with dark cherry, sticky caramel, vanilla, and old oak. The finish is long and drawn out. Although I haven't been drinking much bourbon recently, this would rank among my favorite bourbon experiences. I'm finally getting to these samples a friend sent a while back.

The nose offers sweet oak, toasted marshmallow, a hint of cinnamon, and abundant dark fruits like cherry, raspberry, and possibly blueberry. On the palate, I detect dark chocolate, sweet oak, cherry, tobacco, and a subtle dry leather note. The finish is long, providing a pleasant warmth. It's highly complex and drinks below its 127 proof.

The aroma is reminiscent of an old chest filled with leather and slightly overripe strawberries. The palate is intensely sweet, oily oak with a touch of cinnamon. The finish is prolonged with charred oak and burnt sugar; the tannins from the barrel are present but remain balanced, avoiding an overly oaked character.

Barrel 21 Aroma: grassy hexanal, a hint of vanilla and cinnamon. Taste: Sweet initially, with cinnamon and orange, butterscotch, dill, and licorice, leading to nutty and graham cracker notes toward the end. The exhale has a bubblegum candy flavor. Finish: Long and sweet, not particularly spicy. Tastes like peanut brittle.