Southern Tier Pumking Pumpkin Whiskey

You definitely don't want to sip this neat; it's best served on heavy rocks, which is how I typically enjoy bourbon. The initial taste, even on heavy rocks right after pouring, is striking – far too strong. It resembles flavored moonshine. However, after a few minutes, it becomes quite palatable without being too diluted. I believe they've perfectly balanced the flavor and alcohol content so that the flavor and alcohol intensity decrease gradually the longer it sits. This makes it ideal for sharing with individuals, like my wife, who might prefer spirits at 30% alcohol or less. She would likely enjoy it about five minutes after pouring it over heavy rocks. It operates on a sliding scale depending on your palate and preferences. It serves as a good base, but it's only a pumpkin flavor on its own. To achieve a pumpkin pie flavor, you'd need to add cream and spices. It has a "spicy" quality from the alcohol itself, but there's no actual pie flavor unless you add spices. So, if you let it rest for a couple of minutes on ice, it's slightly sweet, but not excessively so. As someone who has baked many pumpkin pies, I could easily identify it as pumpkin flavored. As it is, you might mistake it for sweet potato flavor, which is similar to sweetened pumpkin.

I took the chance so others wouldn't have to. Fortunately, I had enough to share, so I don't feel too bad about this purchase. I'm unsure how to classify this. Should it be compared to whiskey or to flavored whiskey, which is unfamiliar territory for me? It tastes like liquid confectionery and is very similar to a liquor version of Pumking beer, but it's just too sweet. This is what I imagine a spiced rum version of corn whiskey would taste like. It's sweet, nearly sickeningly so, with a low alcohol content and minimal burn. The spices dominate the flavor profile, leading to a medium-long finish of cinnamon candy. Make of that what you will.

It's sweet, but has good flavor. It requires heavy ice to temper the sweetness. It would be suitable for desserts, but not for sipping neat. Perhaps mixing it with another lower-quality bourbon would also be a good idea.

Definitely sweet, with a taste like pumpkin pie – more pie, less pumpkin. It has spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, vanilla, a touch of caramel, and makes for an excellent autumn drink with very little alcohol burn.

Quite intensely sweet, not very enjoyable on its own. When used to enhance Pumking Beer, it blends wonderfully. @ NYC in 2020

Excellent for enjoying on ice, especially with plenty of it. It's sweet but quite delightful.