Old Soul 15 Year Cask Strength Straight Bourbon

The nose has an interesting combination of aged oak, sweet peppercorns, and a dark maple syrup aroma rising through it. There are some herbal notes, possibly anise, which I can't quite place, and dark red fruit or currant. It's delicious, and something about it is very familiar. The front is rich with dark sugars, maple, and caramel vanilla. Midway, we get that peppercorn heat, just shy of red-hot cinnamon. The finish is roasted almond with black pepper; faint vanilla and caramel sugars can still be detected, yet it's a dry finish. This is an extremely well-made bourbon. This has a lasting mature finish that doesn't fade; it just keeps going for days. I know I've had this before. There's a lot of guessing about what this is, as a 15-year-old Kentucky barrel isn't something commonly found these days. I don't get enough peanut shell or sour mash for it to be from that distillery, and not enough of the really rich fruit sugars to be from another. Nothing from a third brand, nor a fourth, leaving few options. If I had to guess, I'd say this is from the Heaven Hill distillery, specifically from the Old Fitz warehouse. So, is it great bourbon? Absolutely. As for the value, and considering an Old Fitz and less than $10 per year, you can do the math. Cheers!

A bourbon with an unusual mash bill, from an unknown distillery. $130 for a 15-year cask strength bourbon seems fair. Nose: Tree fruits, sweet confectionery, caramel, and vanilla. It has a delicate but very pleasant and welcoming aroma. Palate: I doubt this is from Barton, as that's where much of the 12-15 year old whiskey seems to originate lately. But who knows? It has a nutty finish and a very sweet, clean candy flavor at the start. Oak is present in the finish, but it's not overpowering. Spicy notes linger at the end, with intense sweetness upfront. This is a delicious bourbon. A superb balance of sweet, spicy, and subtle earthy notes. Interestingly, it could have easily aged another five years. I rated the 2020 bottling of this from another distillery a 3.25. I'll give this the same rating. It's not superior, and in many aspects it's less intricate, but it excels in many areas. Crucially, it has fewer flaws. If you encounter this limited release of 2600 bottles, purchase it.

Nose - peanut brittle with caramel drizzle and cinnamon, leather oil Palate - oily texture, dry spice and hot caramel, aged wood and leather, some dry cocoa powder Finish - hot and lingering, mostly spicy with some sweetness

Tastes like Scotch when served over ice.