Sam Houston 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Release No. 2 2019)

VA Release After a lengthy pause, numerous viscous legs form and move rapidly. Its hue is more bronze than brass, clearly indicating its age... The nose is rich with vanilla, notes of banana bread, and subtle clove. It's not overly prominent on the palate. Despite the initial warmth and the dry finish, it's intensely flavorful. It is sweet, but so well-balanced that sweetness isn't the primary descriptor. Some notes of chocolate and cherry are present. It exhibits excellent complexity and a very long finish. The dark, chocolatey finish is memorable. This is a seriously complex, nuanced, and delicious bourbon. Personally, I prefer a bit more sweetness emerging in the finish... But that's just my personal preference. This is awesome.

TN-2; 12yrs 11 mos. It's not as complex as the reviews suggest. I can understand why another two years might make the 14 year old the ticket. The nose is fruity, with tastes of vanilla, cherry, and spice. It's good, but not worth the $100+ price tag. The bottle's detail and the concept are interesting, though. I'm not disappointed I purchased it, but it will likely remain on the shelf for some time.

Corn and burnt sugar on the nose. Very sweet and fruity initially, followed by woody oak and finally pepper at the end. This is produced by Barton's, essentially making it a 12-year-old 1792 at 98 proof. It's good but not remarkable enough to justify a $92 price tag, even with the 12-year designation. Update: Currently, this is selling for $120.

The aroma begins with cherry, leather, oak, and vanilla. The palate is dry yet coats the mouth, with the cherry flavor carrying through and blending well with vanilla, plus notes of oak, cinnamon, and cream. The finish is medium-long, featuring a creamy oak that persists along with fading cinnamon and vanilla.

Batch VA-2, made from 3 barrels. Aged 12 years and 4 months. Bottle 330 of 604. Quite good, with lots of oak on the nose alongside hints of vanilla. The taste is heavily oak-influenced due to the extended aging. I'm not certain it justifies a $100 price tag, but I wouldn't refuse it if it were offered.

Smell: vanilla and a hint of peanut? Flavors: Sweet vanilla with a touch of spice. Still some peanut flavor present. Finish: Short and direct oak and vanilla.