Nelson's First 108 Tennessee Whiskey

The familiar Lincoln County Process profile, typical of Tennessee whiskies, is immediately present, with the bourbon also taking on faint smoky notes alongside its standard profile. Compared to Jack Daniel's, it's sweeter, slightly more complex, and offers a more pleasing mouthfeel and taste. This 2-year-old version tastes quite immature, with underdeveloped and somewhat harsh flavors. It needs about 2-3 more years in the barrel, which aligns with the producer's plans.

Nose: Sweet bananas and cream, traces of maple and vanilla, faint nutmeg and slightly floral notes Palate: Toasted oak, cream, maple, shifting to a slightly floral character towards the finish Finish: Moderate length, with the flavors from the palate yielding to subtle smoky barrel notes and hints of nuttiness and pipe tobacco It's hard to believe this is only two years old. It certainly improves with air. I've had this bottle open for a few months, and it's much more impressive now when I revisit it.

It's hard to pinpoint, but I like it. The aroma is quite intriguing and captivating. The flavor is also rather distinct. I purchased some while visiting Nashville. For whiskey enthusiasts, I highly recommend the distillery tour there, which includes a tasting of their spirits. If you enjoy it, grab a bottle or two, as it's exclusively available there.

It's genuinely excellent. There's an indescribable depth that I've never encountered before, and I'm actively seeking out more spirits like this. Although it's young (2yr), I eagerly anticipate their properly aged release later this year.

This was a 2-year reserve sampled during the tour. It was the fourth of five we tried. It had nutty and earthy aromas. I'm really looking forward to tasting the 4-year batch.

The aroma is complex, reminding me of chocolate-covered bananas. The palate offers a lot going on.