Old Virginia 12

Bottled in France at 43% from American new oak barrels, it offers a little more than the standard budget bourbon. For the modest price (for a 12-year-old), I imagine many people use it as a mixer, but it is quite pleasant neat. Finding the right water ratio is tricky; the aroma opens up with water but it drowns the taste. At this price, why not pour two glasses and have both. Aroma: Lemon candy Buttered Dill Green Banana skin Vanilla Fresh oak Arrival: Apple juice sweetness Vegetal tang Wood char Development: Quinine Tangy tannins Cinnamon Orange peel Finish: Wood spice Dried banana chips Soft menthol A fancy bottle and an elaborate plastic twist-top lid give a “halfway there” vibe that translates (perhaps unintentionally) what should be expected from the contents. A tasty bourbon that is smooth enough not to offend you drinking it neat. Sweet enough but not cloying and spicy enough to be savored without the solvent notes that sometimes come with this price tag.