O.K.I. Reserve Blended Bourbon Whiskey (Batch 1)

A friend, aware of my fondness for high rye bourbon, and who also enjoys older MGP spirits, was intrigued by this bottle's label and purchased it. It's a blended whiskey comprising almost half 12-year-old MGP high rye, 12% 14-year rye whiskey, and nearly a quarter light whiskey, with the remainder being slightly younger bourbon and rye. All components are from MGP, though bottled in Bardstown. I find it (surprisingly?) quite pleasing. Initially, I was concerned about the 'light' whiskey component, but it doesn't seem to be a factor. The nose reveals deep butterscotch and stone fruit, along with some baking spices and perhaps a touch of hazelnut. It has a dark amber color with slow-forming legs. The palate has a creamy texture with caramel, vanilla, and stone fruit. It reminds me of the Remus Repeal releases, though I don't have any to compare side-by-side. It evolves nicely on the palate, but that small amount of younger spirit turns bitter towards the end, detracting from an otherwise very enjoyable dram. I like this one, but it doesn't appear to be readily available, and online searches indicate a price point similar to Remus, which I consider superior.

Taste - consumed neat, 2oz in a glen cairn glass. Nose - Dominant notes of flat cherry cola and sticky caramel. A subtle hint of leather or dried tobacco keeps you engaged. Palate - The initial impression is a wonderfully thick, viscous mouthfeel! It strikes me as very rich and buttery. Cola and caramel persist, accompanied by notes of nutmeg or perhaps eggnog. There are pleasant aged wood characteristics, but nothing overly damp. I also detect hints of milk chocolate with the caramel, reminiscent of a Snickers bar. This is precisely what a bourbon should be, 100%. Finish - Lingered longer than I anticipated for a 100 proof spirit, concluding with a pleasant chocolate cream note, almost like chocolate mousse. Overall - I am thoroughly enjoying this, and it's not entirely surprising. It bears a strong resemblance to the Remus Repeal lineup, but richer. The blending here is superb. I'm genuinely curious to see how it compares to some of my favorite 4R Limited Editions. It's THAT good.

Oh, MGP (or whatever they're calling themselves now), I love you dearly. Cedar and dill notes, which are characteristic, are present but are mellowed and enveloped by caramel. I believe the latter is due to the light whiskey component. For comparison, Smoke Wagon Uncut is sharper and more spice-forward, with less sweetness. Belle Meade Cask Strength offers a similar balance and sweetness, and a higher proof, making it a potential winner. None possess the complexity of a Remus Reserve. This is quite good, and I'd be happy to pay around $55-60, but unfortunately, it's selling for $70-80 locally. I'll enjoy it, but I don't expect to miss it.

One can tell this is expertly blended. A lot is happening with the nose, but nothing necessarily stands out as exceptionally great… just good. Sweet with some refined grain notes… a touch of brown sugar hidden in there, and you can tell it should come with a burst of spice when you drink it… which it does. Quite spicy… the taste follows the nose, but the spice is a bit overpowering for the other notes. A nice warming finish in the throat, but I wouldn't call it long-lasting. Quite nice and I look forward to seeing how this opens up.

This is a surprising dram. It's very well-balanced and exceeds its price point. Although blended, the age of the oldest barrels is noticeable. The nose has a great balance of oak and brown sugar with graham cracker notes. The taste features vanilla wafers, oak, honey, and a hint of chocolate in the finish. The body is oily and quite substantial. An excellent pour that often goes unnoticed.

An almost immediate palate saturation of sweet orange peel and earthy, woody charcoal. Baking spices appear as soon as the orange fades. Unlike anything I've experienced before. Could be mistaken for a cocktail served straight. A dank, cannabis-like herbal finish, then the spices return.