Rock Town Arkansas Hickory-Smoked Whiskey

This is an odd one, which is precisely why I decided to try it. Helping my father smoke brisket on our backyard pit was a childhood staple, and the scent of smoky hardwood is tied to some of my fondest childhood moments. The concept of unpeated, smoked whiskey is something I find fascinating and am beginning to investigate. I must admit, my initial impression upon smelling it was not promising - I first thought, "burnt rubber sole." However, after a few minutes in the glass, it evolves into a strong smoke that could only come from wood like hickory, accompanied by a distinct cereal sweetness. It's reminiscent of having a bowl of Lucky Charms near a campfire. The taste mirrors the aroma, presenting a peculiar balance of slightly sharp wood smoke and sweet, mellow, vanilla-infused grain. If you enjoy burning Grape Nuts, finding this bottle would be a dream come true. For me, it's a boldly interesting experiment. After mulling it over, I'm awarding it three stars currently. I appreciate the audacity and confidence, but there's room for improvement. I also hope that perhaps the bottle will evolve with time, losing some of its initial roughness. If that happens, I'll raise the rating.

It has a bit less flavor than their other bourbon, but it possesses a great smokiness that comes through with whiskey rocks and a cube or two of ice. There's a slight hickory peat in the mouthfeel. It goes down smoothly overall.

A subtle aroma of damp cellar and soaked cloths

No thank you, I'm alright.