Rebel Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon (Friends of Oliver)

Barrel Select: #7533024 (11/2/16) "Friends of Oliver" A group associated with two neighborhood eateries recently chose a barrel of this spirit and another of Ezra Brooks. Distilled in November of '16, this clocks in somewhere between 4-5 years old. *AROMA: Brown Sugar, Maple, Cocoa, and Oak. After a while, the vegetal scent typical of this distillery's wheated mashbill begins to take over. It reminds me of Sweet Potato, which fortunately complements the Brown Sugar and Maple notes. There's a bit of heat, but less than anticipated for the alcohol content. *NEAT: The texture feels thick and coating. Sweet Potato with Cinnamon Butter and Brown Sugar. Hints of Tea and Cherry Syrup appear on the finish. Quite hot with a substantial warmth spreading through the chest. Slightly Dry Oak and Cherry coat and linger on the entire palate. Certainly one of the most persistent spirits I've encountered recently. *SPLASH: Both the aroma and taste pick up some Orange Peel and Mulling Spice. There's a subtle hint of Melted Salted Butter and some Herbal Black Licorice. The Cherry becomes less sweet and more akin to medicine. *CONCLUSION: I genuinely enjoy this. The mouthfeel was exceptional. Two hours later, I could still detect its presence on my cheeks and gums. I'm not sure what process is applied to this distillery's Larceny, but it significantly improves it. I find Larceny drinks hotter than its stated alcohol content, is overly tannic, and the vegetal note is too pronounced. Of course, as this is a Single Barrel, your experience could differ, but this is so much superior to the bottle of Larceny Barrel Proof I possess. To confirm, I poured a sample for comparison, and the Larceny was an astringent, excessively tannic, bitter disappointment. I appreciate that the company is offering these selections, and I would certainly take a chance on another if I see one.