Remus Volstead Reserve 14 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon

Color - warm mahogany with copper highlights. Quick swirls create numerous streaks running down the glencairn. Nose - brown sugar, red apples, oak, leather, cinnamon, orange peel, and honeysuckle. No significant ethanol or heat, perhaps a very faint whiff of dried varnish. Palate - an oily mouthfeel coats the tongue with notes of buttered toffee, caramel apples, cinnamon, and vanilla; also a subtle nutty note - possibly hazelnut rather than Beam/HH peanut. The finish transitions to honey, oak, and baking spices, without becoming dry or tannic. Tried a few drops of water for the latter half; it didn't seem to alter much, except to slightly boost the mid-palate flavors. Overall, a truly enjoyable dram. It's more complex and nuanced than any other MGP bourbon I've encountered. At 14 years, I anticipated a significant oak presence, but this is not remotely over-oaked, in my opinion. Definitely something to savor when your palate is fully engaged. My only notable criticism is that the finish doesn't linger as long as I'd prefer, nor does it engage the back palate in the way truly exceptional higher-proof whiskeys do.

Nose: neat: anise, caramel, vanilla, rye bread. As it airs out, the licorice notes seem to become dominant. Later, fresh citrus appears. With water: more caramel and malt take over the aroma. Orange citrus notes emerge later. Body: neat: medium Palate: neat: licorice, vanilla, toffee, caramel. With water: interestingly, the water seemed to bring out a peppery element that surprised me. Finish: medium with a lingering sweetness, honey, and hints of freshly cut grass. My only complaint is that it's too brief; I wish the flavor would last longer. Note: this is very nice neat. Amazing aroma. Very good, yes. The licorice and sweetness are intriguing. This is a very good dram. The flavor layers are pleasant and interesting. Well-crafted and very smooth. Highly enjoyable.

It's Friday, why not? The aroma is soft yet has smoke and spice with a butterscotch note at the end. Very soft on the palate with a bold spice the more this is chewed. Small, quick sips are very similar to the nose with moderate spice and the same butterscotch trail. A long savor yields some grassy notes with more pepper in the finish, yet still a final hint of some toasted caramel and the corn emerges some time after finishing. Not something I would get often (unless this goes on a crazy sale) but worth a try if you find an opportunity, and wow, Indiana bourbon has got it!

A big admirer of MGP products. I really wanted to enjoy this... and I did like it. Nothing particularly stood out to me; it might be a bit too oaked. It felt hotter than its stated 50% ABV. The pour is well-rounded but somewhat subdued. Rated 4.0/5 without considering the price. Rated 3.75/5 with the price in mind, as I wouldn't purchase a bottle.

A very good, classic bourbon. The aroma has caramel and vanilla, with some sweetness, perhaps honey. The taste offers considerable sweetness with a pleasant touch of rye spice.

Citrus nose, slight marshmallow. Palate: sweet corn, more marshmallow, short finish. Slight oak in the finish. Raisin, fig. Very good