Pinhook Bohemian Bourbon High Proof

Before this, the only brand bottling I had experienced was their bourbon-rye blend, which was quite good. I'd noticed this on shelves several times and finally decided to purchase it, as I appreciate high-proof bourbons and reputable brands. Upon returning home, I was somewhat let down to discover it was only aged for three years, a detail I had to locate in the fine print on the bottle's back. Nevertheless, let's see what it offers. The aroma is intensely, cloyingly sweet, with easily noticeable caramel-coated popcorn and vanilla taffy. The corn presence is strong in the scent, likely indicating a high corn mash bill, and also reinforcing its youthful age. Extremely sweet indeed, with melted cotton candy and just a subtle hint of chocolate-covered orange. That bright, fruity note transforms into heavy charred oak, but merely the essence of the wood, as the customary caramel and vanilla recede. The high proof smooths out the finish without being overly alcoholic. This is undoubtedly one of the more distinctive bourbons in my collection, yet it lacks any additional embellishment, such as alternative wood treatments or exotic grains. I certainly anticipate enjoying reaching for this when I desire something different after another bourbon, though not necessarily a complete departure.

Golden-pale straw color. Shows many legs that appear quickly. The nose is rich with rye characteristics: baking spices, tart dried fruits, golden raspberries, candied oranges, and a touch of earthy funk. A slowly developing warmth begins early and intensifies after swallowing. The mouthfeel is larger than expected, coating the mouth with light caramel, immediately followed by mild oak dryness and abundant tart fruit and spice. It's substantial with a lot going on. A bit more barrel influence would truly complete it. An amazing value, and I suspect this distillery will continue to create more, and more well-balanced and intricate products.

Sampled neat in a glencairn. Appearance: Dark yellow. Nose: Alcohol, honey, vanilla, brown sugar, a faint note of tea, more akin to peach tea than black tea. Palate: Good mouthfeel, rich, sweet honey, more peach notes, an alcoholic bite, and some bitterness. Finish: Brief, with honey and cardboard, reminiscent of that peach tea. T8ke scale rating: 5, acceptable, just okay. This has improved with air, as the initial pour was unpleasant, dominated by alcohol and cardboard. Now I'm curious to see how this spirit develops with more age.

Nose: I detect some citrus elements, honey, vanilla, and baking spices - a quite delightful opening. Palate: The palate begins with vanilla wafers at the forefront, transitioning to peppery spice in the mid-palate and towards the back - the mouthfeel is thin and somewhat a decline from the nose, but not at all unpleasant. Finish: The finish offers a pleasant warmth and is medium to long in duration, with the peppery spice persisting throughout - pleasantly surprised by the recovery from the palate. Overall: Slightly inconsistent, but very enjoyable in general.

Nose: Grainy, corn, light caramel, cinnamon. Palate: Sweet upon initial taste, but quickly shifts to a corn flavor. You can clearly tell it's a young bourbon due to its thin consistency and very light color. It has a little heat on the palate, but it's not excessive. Finish: It has a decent finish, but as I mentioned, it's thin and mostly burn, not a warming embrace! It's not a bad bourbon, but I probably won't buy it again.

Rich and peppery. The aroma is very vibrant and welcoming, while the taste is full-bodied with a moderately long finish. It's a classic bourbon with a modern edge. Really nice!