Paddleford Creek Bourbon (83 Proof)

Sampled from a small bottle. I chose this whiskey from a selection of unfamiliar 50ml bottles at a store, but I can't recall my reasoning for expecting to enjoy it. I remember being put off by the charcoal filtering process, yet curiosity must have prevailed. Pleasantly, the aroma is quite inviting, provided you can tolerate the intense ethanol vapor. The nuttiness often associated with charcoal filtering, a characteristic of a certain brand I avoid, is present here. However, it's clearly identifiable as a bourbon, with corn dominating the sweet, sugary scent. Initially, the taste is dominated by the charcoal-filtered nuttiness after a few seconds, likely due to the low proof. The comparison to that other brand holds up well; it's difficult for this spirit to distinguish itself significantly. There's a touch of barrel and young corn sweetness in the mid-palate, but the finish arrives rapidly, overwhelming any other flavors. Subsequent sips reveal a scent I dislike, leading me to believe it's unique. I could easily mistake this for that other brand, perhaps aged in a recently used or re-charred bourbon barrel. It's not award-winning, but I didn't expect it to be. For those seeking a similar yet distinct charcoal-filtered whiskey, I'd actually suggest this. The effort to meet bourbon labeling requirements, only to filter it, especially through charcoal, seems to set unrealistic expectations. If the strict new barrel rule were relaxed (allowing for reused barrels to mellow the corn further) and the proof slightly increased to around 90, this could be a quite decent whiskey without additional considerations.

Color: Pale gold, amber Smell: Peach, strawberry, light oak. A surprisingly nice aroma with a faint ethanol hint. The bourbon's youth is subtly apparent. Taste: Light texture on the palate. The nose's fruitiness isn't prominent. Light caramel and fresh wood notes that fade quickly. Finish: A short finish that offers little. It's not unpleasant, just barely there.

Nose: vanilla, brown sugar, banana, maple, caramel, barrel char, noticeable ethanol burn. Taste: sweet vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, maple, cinnamon, wheat, banana, cola, sweet oak, notable alcohol bite, finishing rapidly with intensely sweet caramel and barrel char flavors. It's excessively sweet and artificial tasting, becoming cloying after a few sips. Better suited as a mixer, if necessary.

The aroma is fruit-forward, featuring apple, banana, and some orange peel. Not much else is notable. It has a very thin body. Some of those fruit notes carry through. Very subtle vanilla and oak. A caramel finish. It lacks significant flavor, coming across as very flat.

An exquisite Bourbon from Minnesota. It begins richly with notes of caramel and toasted nuts, develops a bold character with corn, grain, oak, and toast, and concludes with a lengthy, balanced finish of tobacco and earth. May 2018 / August 2019 / 2022

Aromas include leather and wood, with some vanilla, cinnamon, and peach. It smells like apple pie. The flavors largely lose those characteristics. The initial taste is hot alcohol with a harsh burn. The wood notes persist. The leather returns in the finish as the burn subsides.