Old 55 Single Barrel Bottled In Bond

I'm undecided about Old 55. I truly want to appreciate this bourbon. It's commendable that, as an Indiana native, I have a local distillery that doesn't source from the major producers. I've tried their single barrel and single barrel Bottled-in-Bond versions, and the flavors have varied significantly between different batches. My initial tasting was of batch 16c1, which was an explosion of fantastic flavor. It had a strong Cracker Jack profile, with notes of corn, caramel, pecans, a hint of fruit, and a pleasant amount of spice on the finish, complemented by a balanced blend of oak and corn. It was delicious! The most recent tasting is batch 16c3a, and so far, it hasn't delivered the same flavor experience. Neither had a particularly strong aroma; the 3a leans more towards caramel and orange but is quite strong with alcohol. A quick burst of sweetness hits the palate first. The taste includes hints of caramel and orange, a touch of corn and pecan, significant spice, and a dry oak finish. This bottle has been priced between approximately $65 and $75. For that first batch, I would have gladly paid $70, as it had great flavor, and I'd be willing to pay a bit extra to support a local business. This second batch is good, but it doesn't justify the $70 price tag for me; I'd place it in the $50 or less category. I remain a supporter overall, but I'd like to see more consistency in their releases to establish a baseline before they experiment with barrels, aging, and mash bills. Cheers! *Revisit: I've essentially let this bottle open up over the past three months, and it has improved considerably. Caramel, maple butter, and corn are the dominant flavors; the spice is still present but has mellowed, and there's oak on the finish. It's not as exceptional as that first bottle, but there's potential. It has good flavor and a very pleasing oily texture. If they were to age this for another four years, Old 55 might truly have something special.

Batch 1765A. Sweet aroma, with a hint of alcohol. Thin mouthfeel, but flavorful. Lacks a significant finish. A pleasant bourbon, and I'm happy to support a distillery from Indiana, but I likely wouldn't buy it again. Wow! The second tasting is much improved! Very sweet nose. The flavor is deeper and more intense. Sweet and fruity. Still on the thin side, and the finish isn't the longest. But there's a tingling sensation on the gums, tongue, and lips that lingers for quite a while!! I'm definitely reconsidering if I would purchase this again!! Upgraded from 3.5 to a 4. 8/26/22 - It has become one of my favorites. Finished my first bottle tonight, and I will absolutely buy the next one I see. Well done, Old 55. Proud to support a distillery from my home state. Cheers! 9/30/22 - Batch 1765A, Bottle #26 by JF

A score of 7.8