Rock Town Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

The aroma has a bit of sharp fruit mixed with lots of alcohol and some bright wood. There's just the tiniest hint of chocolate and maybe coffee on the aroma. It smells a bit herbal like Belle Meade Cask Strength but more organic. There's a bit of bright apple and rye aroma as well. The palate is surprisingly light and sweet with some interesting herbal presence and some floral fruitiness. There are some nice orange blossom notes that are actually quite like tangerine. It's sweet with lots of vanilla. This is a shockingly smooth drink. It's also interesting in how it's light but balanced. It doesn't have that brash young taste, but it certainly isn't old. The balance is quite good and the proof really sneaks by. This is super tasty and easy to sip, though it isn't your traditional bourbon flavor. The mineral really isn't overwhelming and it doesn't taste excessively like rye. It lacks the robust presence of Wild Turkey Jewbillee, but it has some delightful balance that reminds me of Macallan 15. With water, some more wood and spice come out. The fruit and floral flavors really balance it. Why doesn't Irish whiskey taste more like this? One one hand, I'd love to taste a more mature version of this whiskey. On the other hand, it's quite good as is in large part due to its terrific balance. Aging it longer might result in the wood overwhelming the other flavors.

Rock Town produces some very good bourbon. The current "Whisky Bible" highly praises the distillery. I've been tasting this bottle since Christmas, as it was a gift. This review is for the single barrel, cask strength version, from barrel 303, bottle 73 of 99, at 55.9% ABV. At this proof, the initial taste is a bit fiery but full of rich flavor. It includes brown sugar, oak and barrel char, vanilla, spice, and a hint of old leather. The finish lingers and is slightly astringent. I believe this is a fairly young bourbon, but the use of small barrels results in significant wood interaction. Now, with a few drops of water: the nose has a hint of floral honey, minimal heat on entry, all the flavors are present but less intense, the finish is smoother and allows a touch of sweetness to emerge. Overall, a very satisfying bourbon.

This whiskey spent 22 months aging. A noted critic gave it high marks, but in reality, it's just a young spirit, and its cost is due to its direct-from-grain production. It seems young but possesses a depth unexpected for its 22-month maturation. Corn is noticeable throughout. The finish offers the most complexity, with subtle fruit and sweetness akin to vanilla. However, at nearly $50, superior alternatives exist. 5.7/10

Smells of cinnamon and caramel. The initial scent is sweet and smooth. Vanilla emerges in the middle. It concludes with a woody character.

Cinnamon, caramel, pepper.

From barrel 595, this is bottle 68.