Ranger Creek .36 Texas Straight Bourbon

I noticed this bottle previously but wasn't motivated to taste it. It was consistently priced between $35-$40 for a 375mL size, which seems small for that cost. Fortunately, a relative who knew I enjoyed bourbon gave it to me. I poured a measure into a glencairn glass, straight, and let it sit for 15 minutes. The aroma was quite intriguing. It presented notes of vanilla, aged oak, more mustiness and dustiness (reminiscent of an old forest), with a continued oak presence. The nose was quite good, building my anticipation. The taste is where things completely stopped for me. It started with a burst of cinnamon and oak, then shifted to a truly, remarkably peculiar flavor. Imagine chemicals or plastic. It was the most unusual palate I've encountered in a bourbon. The chemical character was so dominant it overwhelmed the entire finish. The finish was even less pleasant than the palate. It had chemical and plastic notes, like aged plastic toys, leaving a very unpleasant lingering sensation. It reminded me of chewing on a toy that had been stored in a garage for an extended period. This might be the bourbon I liked the least. It's disappointing considering the high price for a craft bourbon in a smaller bottle. It's not a worthwhile purchase. Skip this bottle and use $35-$40 to buy a different, standard-sized bottle.

I visited the San Antonio distillery. This bourbon shows potential, but it had a strange, malty quality reminiscent of dry breakfast cereal, and beyond that, it was one-dimensional. It lacked the typical caramel, brown sugar, cherry, or oak notes. This release is from 2019, so I'm curious to see how another year or two in the barrel affects this whisky, but as of now, it doesn't impress me much.

Nose: notes of playdough, chocolate, leather, nutmeg, and a hint of spice. Palate: flavors of herbs and pungent spices, cinnamon, cocoa, with a warm, earthy finish. Additional notes: sampled this from a wide-brimmed tumbler, and it was only a 1oz pour, so take this assessment with a grain of salt. It presents as somewhat immature, but I'm pleased with the outcome regardless of its age. Given a few more years, this will undoubtedly be an exceptional dram.

A substantial serving with a single ice cube. The initial taste is sweet, featuring notes of cherry, vanilla, and sugary pecans. The finish is warm and slightly piquant, with hints of clove, pepper, and nutmeg. It's quite pleasing, though perhaps another ice cube would have been beneficial.

Really smooth with plenty of chocolate coming through. It's one of the best I've had at this cost.

A little too sugary for my preference.