Paul Sutton Single Barrel Bourbon

One person: I couldn't quite identify the scent, but then I realized it smells like a car wash. A second whiff brings to mind a car wash run by heavy chain-smokers. Initially, I didn't detect anything on the palate, but my nose definitely felt a burn. Taking a second sip, as one must do to adjust, I'm convinced I have lung cancer, despite never smoking. It went up my nose, making me shake my head to try and ease the sting. Unsurprisingly, this bottle is heading to the 'guest' section of our liquor cabinet (otherwise known as the bourbon we find undrinkable). This section is 'special' because we only bring it out on 'special' occasions, like when we have no other bourbon for guests – it's a win-win; we gain host points for making them feel 'special,' and we keep the truly good stuff for ourselves. #winning Another person: We've been watching a dark vampire series on Hulu. It's perpetually dim, fitting for vampires, and they reside in an old house on Staten Island. The house is filled with antique items, bats, and the occasional deceased person. This whiskey tastes exactly as I imagine their basement would smell. Bat urine, a dead body, and old furniture… that's the summary.

Nose: Upon opening, the profile was quite muted. After letting it rest, I only detected brown sugar. Palate: This is where the drink excels. It has notes of tobacco, leather, vanilla, and cinnamon candy shell. Despite being 58.7 proof, it drinks like a 90 proof. It's outstanding. Finish: A slight Kentucky hug, it lingers briefly and then fades. Overall: My bottle is from a Liquor King DFW store pick, so it's likely a bit more flavorful. I'm very pleased with this expression.

This bottle was a Christmas present from my brother-in-law, and I must say it was quite decent. The nose presented a robust rye spice and caramel character. The taste offered a fairly strong combination of cornbread, crushed nuts, leather, and oak that seemed to emerge at different points while sipping. The alcohol content provided a pleasant warmth on the finish.

A solid bourbon. It has sweet vanilla and oak notes, a medium body, and a long, gradually developing spicy finish. It seems to strike a good balance between the 86/90 proof bourbons and newer barrel-strength options.

Slightly unique. It offers sweet fruit, oak, and caramel on the nose. The palate brings caramel, a full body, and a spicy finish. There's also an unidentifiable note in the flavor profile.

Full-bodied. Features a sweet, brown sugar flavor that has a long finish