Lusty Claw Bourbon

Reminds me of a girl in college who constantly invited me over late to see her knife collection. It was unsettling, and I always declined. I lacked health insurance then and feared a bad outcome. This bottle brought back similar apprehension. A friend brought it over, found in his cabinet, thinking I’d enjoy a taste. However, its appearance and name made me question my safety. The brand was unknown, the bottle looked odd like it was from a discount bin, and "Lusty" isn't a serious distillery name unless targeting young partygoers. I did try it, though. It’s drinkable, but not good. It's young, overwhelmingly corn-saccharin flavored, with a harsh, irritating finish. It might work in very sweet mixed drinks, but drinking it straight is awful. I didn’t party in college due to my demanding course load, but if I had, this might have been my choice for a mixer. My advice: adults shouldn’t ask people over late to view weapons, and this shouldn't be consumed neat.

This Kentucky straight bourbon was presented by my brother-in-law, who bought it some months ago, with the assertion that it was "really bad." I'm now sampling it from a generous pour in a Glencairn. Information on this whisky's source is scarce. The bottle is quite elaborate, featuring a prominent bronze-like emblem and a large eagle head atop the cork. The label indicates it was distilled in Kentucky and bottled in Florida. It has 45% ABV, a natural rusty color, and is chill filtered. The stated mash bill is corn and malted barley, with no specified ratio, and it's aged a minimum of three years. The aroma is quite faint, with notes of vanilla and oak, along with some honey and corn. There are hints of cinnamon, clove, and a touch of mint, but little else in terms of complexity. The taste mirrors the nose, dominated by honey and vanilla, with soft yet warm oak notes. It’s unremarkable and very smooth, not delivering the stronger flavors one might expect at 45% ABV. The mouthfeel is light to medium-bodied and dry. The finish is brief, with vanilla and oak fading away. While not as terrible as my brother-in-law suggested, it's certainly not great either. It's weak but not offensive. Given its $55 price, I'd advise against it. The cost of the ornate bottle could have been better allocated to the spirit inside. I've raised the rating slightly due to the impressive eagle head design. Cheers.

This gets wrongly advertised as "Kentucky bourbon" even though it's sourced and bottled outside of Kentucky. It represents the worst of the current "designer bourbon" trend, heavily promoted with flashy packaging and sold to unsuspecting consumers as a "real traditional" bourbon. They might as well have included "small batch" as another empty marketing term or "extra aged." My understanding is it comes from MGP, making it mostly or entirely "Indiana" and not Kentucky spirit, bottled at a rum plant in Florida. Apparently, just "passing through" Kentucky is now sufficient to claim it's from Kentucky. Don't be deceived. It's typically vastly overpriced for what it is, and even one star might be too generous.

I’m sold. Similar to many who snagged this bottle, the presentation is what initially grabbed my attention. A cool bottle with an eagle topper and gold cord. How could you not want to try it?! The taste is pleasant; it doesn’t pack the same punch as a 95% ABV bourbon, but I could drink a glass without issue. I also prefer it chilled, which is how I sampled it.

I don't recall the price. The bottle is visually appealing, but the aroma and taste are average. Nothing objectionable, but nothing exceptional either.

Cool bottle, but they need it to attract customers for a subpar whiskey. It's like candy... that I never want to try again.