OYO Bourbon Whiskey Michelone Reserve

Living near the OYO distillery, I had high hopes for this whiskey as a spirits enthusiast. The price is a bit challenging, but that's typical for craft whiskey nowadays. Compared to its local counterparts, Watershed and Mill Street, I found the OYO to have an unexpectedly sweet nose (perhaps like pralines) and wasn't particularly engaging on the palate. It almost seems as if the spirit is influenced by their vanilla/honey flavored vodka produced at the same location. I prefer Mill Street's 100% corn bourbon over OYO's offering. It's also $12.50 cheaper.

[10.15.2014] Disclaimer: I haven't consumed this in a long time since writing this note. These producers are doing many things correctly - there may have been significant improvements... I'd rate this highly. The aroma is well-balanced, with a slight alcoholic waft beyond the sweet caramel and aged oak scents. The palate is dominated by strong oak with a bourbon influence. It's almost as if the oak was intensely infused into the liquor. Caramel and mild fruit, sweet grains, and barrel notes are present. It's just a bit stiff.

The aroma is brown sugar with faint oak notes. The palate has some oak and hints of the wheat whiskey's spice. The bourbon notes provide a nice kick and balance the wheat whiskey. A pleasant warmth on the finish. I'm not usually a fan of wheat whiskey, so this was a welcome surprise. While it's not something I'd rush to buy again, I might consider purchasing it in the future.

Spicy cinnamon and alcohol (a bit immature) that evolves into a softer caramel and dried fruit, leading to a satisfyingly long finish. I'm quite impressed and would be interested to see a version with longer aging.

The aroma is sweet, reminiscent of caramel. It feels very smooth going down. There's minimal burn when swallowing. The taste is sweet while it's in your mouth. The finish is sweet and the burn fades fast.

An unusual blend of the two components. Not a bad bourbon, but not an exceptionally good one either.