Aroma - Huge brown sugar and a faint Luxardo cherry note. Cinnamon, green tea, and bay leaf add a slightly unusual element, but the overall nose is pleasant. Taste - Wow, corn and alcohol are the primary notes here, with a strong alcohol punch. Brown sugar and caramel are present, with a hint of cinnamon and green mouthwash. The biggest drawback is the viscosity; the mouthfeel is a bit too thin for a spirit at this proof. The heat is prominent from the mid-palate to the finish, which somewhat limits its complexity. In fact, there's a very long and noticeable burn and warmth in the finish. Overall - The $60-70 price is completely justified. However, I feel it falls short when compared to competitors like WT Rare Breed, Jack SB BP, ECBP, or Larceny BP, as it lacks complexity and balance on the palate. I enjoy cask strength and high-proof whiskeys (over 120 proof), but this one is simply too hot. If the proof were between 110-116, this would likely be exceptional.
Smooth Ambler Founders' Cask Strength Series Bourbon Mashbill #2 (2022 Edition)
3.45 Mixed reviews
Whiskey Bourbon West Virginia 5 Year 59.7% ABV
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About this bottle
The 2022 edition of Smooth Ambler's Founders' Cask Strength Series is the second release, following a rye bottling from 2021. This straight bourbon, produced entirely at Smooth Ambler's West Virginia facility, uses their bourbon mash bill #2: 71% corn, 21% rye, and 8% malted barley. It has been aged for 5 years in new, char #4 American oak within the Appalachian environment and is presented without chill-filtration at a cask strength that will differ by batch. Approximately six batches are planned annually, with the initial batch available nationwide from June 2022.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 2 parsed reviews.
A lot of heat.
Tastes like this
Same style and price bracket, best rated first.
