Old Blowhard 26 Year Bourbon

Drinking aged spirits is always enjoyable. Twenty-six years is quite old for a bourbon. Nose: Woody, toffee, some fruit, sugary notes...this carries to the mouthfeel, though with diminished fruit and sweetness. Is the finish somewhat fiery considering it's 90 proof? Considering the cost, major corporations like Diageo should improve their barrel selection or reduce the price when a barrel isn't outstanding. While 26 years sounds impressive, it's not truly valuable in this instance. It's certainly drinkable, just not exceptional, and at this price, it really ought to be. Retailers are listing it for around $800. Other sources have it for $600. A serving for $25 is a good deal, but it's still not worth it. Second tasting 6/16/20: Similar profile, but I'm not detecting the heat now... score increased to 3.75.

The aroma is heavy with oak and smoke, carrying a whisper of maple. It tastes much the same, delivering ample smoke and oak alongside a touch of spice. However, the finish is brief and vanishes fast. This is the most aged bourbon I've sampled, leaving me without a benchmark for comparison, and I find the cost excessive.

I don't typically favor aged bourbons, but a patron recommended this one. It's quite drinkable as expected, with a touch of sweetness, and the oak is not overwhelming, which is a positive. A fun whiskey.

The price is hard to justify, although this is by far the oldest bourbon I've had the pleasure of tasting. The flavor is good, but I'm not sure I'll purchase this bottle.

Don't let the price mislead you. It's good, but likely over-aged. The finish has a lot of tannic wood notes that persist. However, it is easy to drink.

Vanilla on the nose, with a salty finish. It's a little rough, reminiscent of seawater. The aroma also has a humid, seawater quality, like old, musty wood. Rated 2.5.