Smugglers' Notch Maple Bourbon

Review #058 Type: bourbon Proof: 45% Comments: No Age Statement, created from a mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley, then finished with Vermont maple syrup that was aged in former bourbon barrels Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Auburn color. When swirled, a thick line clings to the glass, and slow-moving legs form. Nose: 15/20 Vanilla, cinnamon, graham crackers, maple syrup, and a curious musty, woody, oak scent. Palate: 30/40 Very smooth. Cinnamon sugar and charred oak are most prominent. Oak tannins are present, along with hints of chili peppers and maple sugar candies. Finish: 28/40 Medium length. Again, more smooth than remarkable. It begins with vanilla, which gradually transforms into black pepper, ending with a charred wood note. With Water: Apricot is distinctly noticeable on the palate after a few drops of water. The finish appears slightly longer; there's a hint of applesauce initially accompanying the vanilla, followed by a mild saltiness for the rest. Total: 73/100 Final thoughts: This bourbon is incredibly easy to drink. It's not excessively sweet, which was an initial concern; instead, the maple influence is subtly suggested. For me, this nicely balances the typical bourbon spice from charred virgin oak, but it lacks excitement. Each stage offers more of the same 3-4 flavors, so while enjoyable, it doesn't stand out for me. Price: $45 Would recommend: possibly Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Like many people here, I don't typically prefer flavored spirits. Aside from subtle barrel flavorings, my only experiences have been with the Maple Knob Creek and this one. I'm pleasantly surprised that the maple is so understated and the sweetness isn't excessive. The whiskey smells good and tastes just like it smells. I find many standard American Bourbons always present Vanilla, Caramel, Oak Barrel, and little else. I believe this is greatly influenced by the current trend of flavoring our Whiskeys. This particular spirit seems to have achieved a well-executed fusion of flavoring with the usual notes, resulting in a superior product. To compare, the Knob Creek, while delicious in its own right, is akin to drinking maple bacon. Each has its purpose depending on the mood or taste. $50

I'm not usually a fan of infused whiskies. I prefer to add my own flavorings when the mood strikes, though I typically drink whiskey neat (or with a tiny bit of ice). I had a Smugglers Notch sampler gift set lying around, so I decided to try it, if only to clear out my cabinet. I was pleasantly surprised. It was clean with just a subtle hint of maple that added to its crispness rather than its sweetness. I've never really experienced 'crispness' in a whiskey before, but that's the best way I can describe it. This was a very pleasing dram. Now I need to make a trip to Vermont to get more.

Nose - brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, syrup. Palate - sweet honey and very pleasant, the maple syrup is surprisingly not overwhelming, classic bourbon flavors of vanilla, caramel, and oak are prominent. Finish - short to medium length, decent warmth, as expected for a 90 proof bourbon. This was a surprisingly good bottle of whiskey. I usually avoid infused bourbons, but this exceeded all my expectations. I hate to admit it, but I like this better than the same distillery's standard straight bourbon.

I anticipated maple but instead received just a subtle hint, which was a pleasant surprise. This is a seriously smooth drink. The initial taste is warm with a touch of maple, followed by a slight burn and a softly sweet finish. I'm enjoying it neat.

Smooth. Clearly maple. Transforms into melted maple vanilla ice cream. Comparable to other "novelty" spirits but not bad at all.