Pursuit United Blended Bourbon

I had doubts about this one, but based on some excellent feedback, I decided to take a chance on this blend featuring young whiskey from a specific distillery and spirits from New York and Tennessee. At $60, my hopes are high, knowing I can get established options like Russel's Reserve or OF 1920 for a similar price. Convince me, fellow bourbon enthusiasts... The aroma is warm and rich. Initially, it had a combination of nutty and fruity/woody characteristics reminiscent of two specific distilleries. With time, more brown sugar, graham cracker, prominent cinnamon and nutmeg, along with orange peel and black walnut appear. Perhaps some cardamom is present as well. Oh, and heat. Pure, nose-blistering heat. Not necessarily a negative, just a bit imposing. Viscous with a pleasant, building warmth. Sweet and spicy with underlying wood and nutty notes. A solid warmth in the chest. It's comparable to a certain well-known brand in terms of heat and brown sugar. As the finish progresses, lasting quite a while, some chalky notes emerge. I find them enjoyable (though those who dislike the taste of 'Flinstones vitamins' might be put off). The black walnut and orange peel bitters are the final flavors to fade. Second taste. More vanilla frosting this time, followed by an intense burst of spice. It's definitely not smooth. It's substantial. More complex than certain other bourbons, but equally intense. There's a noticeable influence from a specific distillery in the mid-palate and finish, but I appreciate it. Considering the price, I'm very pleased and would rank it comparably to another well-known bourbon for its cost, complexity, and heat. However, if you dislike that particular distillery's profile, this might not be for you. I'm unsure of the contribution from the New York-sourced spirit, but whatever it adds works well in the final blend. Regarding the specific distillery's contribution, there's no hint of youth in this blend (unlike their earlier fusion releases). Well done to the Pursuit team! An excellent blend that makes me curious about what I could create myself.

Batch 7CC Nose presents Caramel and Maple syrup, a great start. Then it develops into notes of peaches and toasted oak. A deep inhale reveals hints of spice and baking spice. Palate offers more of the sweet, burnt caramel and candied nuts. The spice noted at the end of the nose quickly appears. Later, it becomes drier and more bitter, but not unpleasantly so, more like black tea. After a few sips and some air, more hints of citrus and peaches emerge. Finish has a lingering presence of tea, spice, and fruit flavors. Definitely a superb bourbon throughout. Nothing is exceptionally outstanding, but all elements are slightly above average, making for a quite memorable sip.

Overall: I had high expectations for this particular bottle. With a $70 price tag and some very positive reviews, I thought it would be worth the splurge. As a thrifty individual, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed with the value. It's one-dimensional as I progress through the glass, and while that single dimension is pleasant, I prefer something that evolves more. Nose: Cherry and honey. The bourbon's grain character is present but subdued. Flavor: Dark fruits. Dried dates in a delicious syrup infused with almonds. The texture is full and lingers. Finish: Medium long. The syrupy sweetness persists along with a noticeable amount of spice.

Appearance: Medium amber color with long-lasting legs, suggesting a slightly oily consistency. Nose: Light caramel, root beer/cherry cola, vanilla, and some sweet tobacco. There's also a bubblegum-minty herbal quality. It's quite complex. Palate: Sweet, juicy fruit cherry and vanilla initially, followed by spicy (rye) cola. Pleasant wood notes emerge in the mid-palate. The finish has notes of banana nut bread and sugared pecans. Overall: I could spend all day just smelling this. It's beautiful. The flavors are subtle and enjoyable. While some flavors might occasionally seem to clash, it's an interesting journey. You can discern each mash bill at different points. The finish is medium length and a bit peculiar.

The aroma is a wonderfully rich and balanced mix of dried fruits, nuts coated in honey and wrapped in leather with a touch of allspice and nutmeg. The palate offers a surprisingly pleasant burst of herbal rye and spice notes that are immediately noticeable. Towards the back of the mouth, some vanilla and butterscotch are detected. The finish is nicely persistent, but the overall texture is more watery and not as robust as the aroma suggests. This profile is certainly distinctive, hits the mark most of the time, and I look forward to revisiting it soon.

Abundant smooth, creamy butterscotch is present upfront. A touch of spiced apple and caramel appears in the middle. Then, an intriguing, light jasmine note emerges in the middle of the finish. However, I'm consistently drawn back to that initial smooth, creamy sweetness with a hint of vanilla and butterscotch.