Redemption 9 year Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch #3 2019

Deep amber color. A robust spicy nose, very indicative of MGP. Abundant cedar, cinnamon, dill, burnt brown sugar, and cherry wood. The palate is mildly viscous and leads with complex spice, prickly cedar, dill, clove, a touch of tobacco, cherry, brown sugar, candy corn, almond, and leather. Overall, this is a solid MGP bottling. I slightly prefer the 10-year barrel-proof rye, as this one lacks some of the fresh herbal notes and instead emphasizes candy corn and slightly toasted almond notes that verge on being slightly bitter. It's not unbalanced but lingers in the long, spicy finish. Definitely a winner, though a bit expensive. Likely a step up in complexity from Belle Meade NAS cask strength, costing $20-30 more and reminiscent of 10-year SAOS.

NOSE Rich dark fruit, oak, leather, complex baking spice, pepper, dark sweets, oil, nuts, and cocoa. It's dense and packed with layers of dark fruit, dark sweets, and leathery-oaky characteristics – a dark, velvety, and inviting aroma. PALATE Oak, rich dark fruit, vanilla, complex baking spice, dark sweets, pepper, leather, oily nuts, and cocoa. The palate of the Redemption 9 Year Barrel Proof Bourbon is even darker and oakier than the aroma, yet retains all the pleasant baking and sweet notes. If anything, they are amplified here. FINISH Long -> Oak, dark fruit, vanilla, corn sweetness. It begins rich and heavy but fades to lighter vanilla and corn-driven sweetness without losing its oakiness.

Bottle designation 3750. Aroma: faint pine, vanilla, and nuttiness. Mouthfeel: no sting, candied nuts, caramel, vanilla on the finish, solid oak foundation, quite easy to drink.

Very sweet and smooth, with a subtle pepper that emerges and lingers. Notes of cinnamon roll and vanilla are present. Quite good.

Caramel, slow burn.