Rollins Tennessee Whiskey

Batch 15: The aroma presents green apples and rye, with some toasted oak and vanilla. The taste in a glencairn is corn-sweet with a hint of baked apples, burnt sugar leading to cinnamon and light oak spice. You don't taste the barrels as much as in better bourbon, but there's some pleasant oak spice and toasted oak notes. The overall flavor is balanced and wonderfully smooth. It's not highly complex or with a long finish, but there's much to appreciate and nothing to dislike. This is clearly a young spirit, but the quality is appropriate. In Australia, this costs around $45, and I consider it excellent value. Compare it to Jack Daniels and be amazed that Jack usually costs a few dollars more but delivers so much less in every way. It can be enjoyed neat in a glencairn, where it's perfectly pleasant though somewhat limited, but it shines on the rocks, bringing out more of the char and toasted notes. My guess is this is intended for creating an excellent Old Fashioned. A solid 3 stars or 88 points. Please note that this is produced in batches, and there are definitely variations between them. (A tip: batch 16 is becoming available as I write this and is not as enjoyable as batch 15, which is still on shelves and is the basis for this review.)

Take this one for what it is. It's unfair to compare it to a $100+ bourbon or even good scotch. This can be compared to Jack Daniels. With that in mind, this is a good spirit in its category. If I had to choose between this and JD, I'd happily select this one. Tasting neat in a glen cairn. NOSE: Young and sweet Oily vanilla pods Sweetness like surface cleaner Unripe green apples in the background Metallic iron notes ARRIVAL: Caramel Vanilla Mouth feels dry DEVELOPMENT: Wood char and cinnamon More dry, sappy wood character FINISH: Cinnamon lingers like you've prolonged a challenge A slight Thai chili heat on the front of the palate Burnt sugar I'm eager to try this in a whiskey sour. Cheers!

Surprisingly unremarkable on the nose, palate, and finish. It's quite impressive to craft a bourbon that manages to be so perfectly drinkable, yet so plain, inconsequential, and forgettable.

Sweet maple flavors are apparent.

Woody, cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel notes.