Rockcastle Small Batch Barrel Proof Bourbon

Quick Summary: A friend was in KY when Batch 13 was released and got me bottle #: 783. I feel the 'small batch' releases might overstate this bottle's significance. It's decent, but not groundbreaking. Smell: Notes of caramel or burnt sugar, maybe even crème brûlée. Possibly some toffee. Taste: Starts strong. Very alcohol-forward. I'm detecting spent grain, malty, and orange notes. I believe I'm getting something sweet like honey as it cools. Aftertaste: Smooth texture. Quite mild considering the intense beginning. Enjoy: I'll keep one bottle for the experience.

Strong alcohol hits hard at first. It's a bit rough going down, but finishes smoother and sweeter. Adding a whiskey stone really improves it. The aroma has pleasant oak notes, and the taste brings more sweetness and spice.

An underappreciated pour. The aroma is pure caramel, and it goes down incredibly smoothly considering the high proof. A good value. I believe it's only found in Kentucky.

Caramel corn on the nose, complemented by a satisfying proof that balanced the sweetness from the wheat. An excellent craft-distilled wheated bourbon.

A bit too harsh for my preference.