Rare Perfection Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Lot #01

More bourbon from what appears to be a group of scammers, but their scam is effective and they've taken some cash from me. So after the ridiculously overpriced St Nick 13 and that awful 14-year rye... can this rare perfect bourbon change my opinion of this garbage company? Nose - Immediately, there are some nice vanillas and caramels, but also a tremendous amount of alcohol. No oaky goodness like ECBP, no fruits of a good Barton's, no MGP magical rye spices and sweetness, no Turkey funk... it's just alcohol with some underlying sweetness. And it's not even that high proof; they diluted this (probably a poor choice). It's opening up and yielding more oak, but it's very dried and tannic, and some sweetness is starting to emerge. I'm actually comparing it somewhat to Old Carter Batch 5, which didn't smell like traditional MGP at all, but this is older and lacks those light coffee notes. And now it's back to too much alcohol. Corn alcohol is now apparent, a lot of corn. I'm struggling to think of a bourbon to pour alongside this for comparison. Old Carter Batch 5 it is. Okay, and there's more richness and sweetness here. There's lighter chocolate and coffee with some grainy wood, while the Perfection has deeper sweetness and deep milk chocolate, but digging deeper past the sweetness reveals oak and bitter tannins rushing forward, stinging the nose. Water brings out nutty notes, but not peanut, more like chestnut. I can't quite figure this one out. Taste - Initially, it's that rich sweetness, and I'm instantly paying full attention. Vanilla, chocolate, and caramel. The sweetness gives way to oak, bitterness, biting alcohol, and a long, very intense but very drying and alcohol-forward finish. Water brings out more spice, but again, it's not subtle; it's pepper, and damn, the Kentucky hug hit me on this pour. I keep returning to how much I love the initial sweetness, and while I generally appreciate a nice bold finish, this one is too aggressive. The Old Carter actually has a similar profile in terms of opening sweet and then increasing the spices, but it's much more mellow initially, and the spice kick is more pleasant. Even though I find many flavor notes off-putting on the Old Carter, the start, middle, and end are structurally very well done. There's something so familiar about this whisky; it reminds me of being a new drinker and struggling with the rough edges of cheaper bourbons, yet this has epic levels of sweet bourbon character. I overdid the water, and now I'm noticing acidity, almost a battery acid level of it with those spices. I'm starting to identify the flaws and become more confident they're present. I'm also getting a pretty common bourbon fruity note, but I can't pinpoint it. Oh, you know what? I'm getting Flintstone vitamins! I've noticed this on a few Kentucky bourbons recently, Old Medley 12 Year! OMG, is this a high-proof Old Medley 12 Year? It's not as fruity as that, and has more tannins and oak, but still similar for sure. Overall, there's a lot of good stuff here mixed with some off notes. There's plenty of complexity. But in the end, I feel this was flawed; these weren't special casks, and it falls short. I'm giving it a 2.5 because the complexity is high. So, $300... what in the hell? Sorry, but this is unacceptable. This has to stop. If you see more of this stuff from these guys, please just ignore it. This is just scummy marketing through and through, from using an old Stitzel-Weller brand name and labeling to their BS pricing.

Rating: 18/23 Nose: Musty wood, vanilla, cornbread, limestone, peanut, ginger, orange peel, dark chocolate. A hint of sawdust. Overall, it smells aged and quite pleasant, but lacks distinctiveness. Palate: The high proof is immediately apparent, but there's ample flavor to match. The lingering flavor becomes more impressive over time. It begins with black pepper, cinnamon, clove, and ginger, followed by musty, dusty wood and a mellow sweetness of vanilla, cornbread, and popcorn balls. Faint limestone notes. While not the most intricate palate, it offers a good blend of complexity, balance, and richness. It displays its age well, though 12 years doesn't seem particularly significant for a bourbon. A larger sip reveals caramel mixed with sweet corn, plus a hint of orange. A pleasant richness. The robust flavor seems largely driven by the high proof. Faint woody notes, with a slight bitterness. Finish: Clean, clear, sweet, spicy, vanilla, with mellow cornbread. An easy finish, but not particularly memorable. - Conclusion - I'm enjoying this significantly. It's easy to drink, but not luxurious. Despite my enjoyment, it's somewhat forgettable. Compared to Russell's Reserve 10 (16/23), which is more complex but less full-bodied with more flinty minerality, this might seem slightly more aged. Russell's Reserve Single Barrel shares a similar fullness, perhaps slightly less so, but is otherwise comparable. Both are rich; this one feels a bit fuller. They have comparable heat. Russell's is fruitier but paradoxically tastes less aged. I likely prefer this one. Therefore, this will receive a high rating. It's not amazing, but it's delightful. A rating of 19 seems appropriate, not lower than 18 or higher than 21. Balcones True Blue Cask Strength (19/23) is more challenging but richer and more complex. These two are similar in quality, making a 19 rating fitting. Between the two, Balcones might edge it out. Revisiting this, I appreciate its smoothness, sweet woody vanilla, and spice. It's more approachable than Russell's Reserve Single Barrel, which is more nuanced. They are close in quality, but I might reduce this rating to 18 or even 17. Uncle Nearest 1856 (15/23) offers similar complexity and smoothness but has less dusty wood and more alcohol bitterness. This is clearly superior but not overwhelmingly so. Russell's Reserve 10 is more bitter and unusual, yet more complex. A well-oxidized bottle of Rabbit Hole Cavehill is lighter with more popcorn ball flavor. It's quite approachable but less full and rich than this. Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve tastes surprisingly more herbal and mature when compared side-by-side. It's delicious next to this. I might need to adjust my rating down to a 17. Comparing it to Blanton's, I prefer the greater sweetness and cleaner profile of Blanton's. However, this offers more richness. I'll stick with an 18 for this one. I'm pleased that Rare Perfection has improved from their 14-year-old Canadian offering. Thanks for the sample!

The aroma has subtle notes of vanilla and oak; the taste is strongly of barrel spice, oak, with a hint of cherry/anise, and a long finish. It's a good drink, but the price is too high (which prevents a higher score).