Puncher's Chance Bourbon

PUNCHER'S CHANCE KSB *Aroma: Dry, very dry. Dried orange and apple peel, aged weathered wood, hay, and earthy funk. A sticky toffee sweetness is subtly present in the background. *Neat: Dry and spicy. Orange oil, dry oak, cinnamon stick, fall baking spices, with the faintest hint of cola sweetness. A drying finish with a gentle warmth blooming in the chest. Orange peel, cinnamon, black pepper tingle, and drying tannins coat and layer on the palate. *With a Splash: The aroma gained a floral quality, and it slightly reduced the tannins on the palate. It developed an overall sweeter character. Not a caramel/vanilla sweetness, but more like a spiced apple holiday cake. *Conclusion: The 75/13/12 mashbill is produced by only two major distilleries I'm aware of: Beam & Wild Turkey. I detected some WT-like earthy funk, but this most reminded me of my single bottle of Johnny Drum Private Stock. In fact, comparing notes, they are almost identical. Perhaps this is the result of combining sourced Turkey and sourced Beam? I really enjoyed the Drum, and I like this one too. It's not a conventional profile, but it suits my taste buds just fine, especially for under $30.

I've seen a few positive reviews but always assumed it was just another standard sourced bourbon with fancy packaging. I wasn't interested at the $30 price point. However, on sale at TW for $16.99, it's worth trying. The aroma has dusty orange peel, a hint of charred wood, and some baking spices. It's not bad at all. The palate has notes of Grand Marnier, light caramel, and oak with a spicy tingle. The finish has charred oak, orange peel, and some lingering sweet spice. The flavors are a bit weak but pleasant. Overall, it's a nice, different bourbon experience. While it exceeded my expectations, I probably won't buy it again; your mileage may vary... 81/100... I'll rate it a solid 3; it's good enough, especially for the price I paid. There are better options available in the $30 range.

APPEARANCE Amber AROMA Caramel, oak, vanilla, baking spice, nuts, and a hint of biscuit. A pretty standard scent, neither great nor bad, just a decent, typical profile. TASTE Oak, caramel, baking spice, vanilla, nuts, biscuit, a little dried dark fruit, and pralines. It's sweet and oaky with a pleasant nutty candy flavor that leans a bit too sweet, but again, it's quite standard. FINISH Medium length, with notes of oak, baking spice, fruit, dried fruit, and nuts. BALANCE, BODY, and MOUTHFEEL Decent balance, medium body, and a smooth, easy feel.

Wow! This is an exceptional bourbon with a wonderfully rich and sweet flavor profile. Enjoying it neat or on the rocks are equally good experiences. There's minimal burn/bite upon the initial taste, followed by smooth, sweet notes of vanilla and caramel. Medium oak flavors are present in the mid-palate, with a slightly heavier texture but still well-balanced. The flavors transition beautifully from the first sip to the finish, which I personally find to be an amazing maple syrup note. I believe I've just discovered my new favorite bourbon.

We appreciate the blend in this offering. It possesses considerable warmth. Vanilla, toffee, caramel, and brown bread are present. The body is medium-heavy, with a rather lengthy finish. It's slightly dry, with a warming, ginger-like heat at the end. A genuine value for the whiskey connoisseur seeking an accessible bottle that will satisfy most palates, excluding the overly particular. Enjoyable for sipping, and also a real hit in traditional bourbon cocktails.

For the cost, you can't afford to pass it up. Smells of vanilla and caramel mixed with pepper and butterscotch. While the aroma is sweet, the taste quickly becomes spicy with pepper, clove, and allspice. The warmth provides a long, slightly smoky finish. The spice is surprisingly potent. It starts off hot and gradually develops into a mentholated finish. A good purchase.