Traverse City Whiskey Co. XXX Straight Bourbon

Incredibly smooth with a tasty, classic bourbon mouthfeel. A great sipper, and one of the better small independent Bourbons I've ever had. I always keep a few bottles handy as this impresses all. I tried this a few years back on a wine tasting trip to Traverse City, MI. Upon drinking some outstanding wine, I ended up at the Traverse City Whiskey Co. to grab a quick bite to eat and try something besides wine. So glad I stopped by and tried this gem, the cherry whiskey is pretty tasty as well. I instantly had to buy a bottle. This bourbon is the king of smooth. Thankfully I only get a faint taste of rye spice in the initial sip, the rye does linger through each sip though. On initial sip I get a balanced mouthfeel of caramel, toast, vanilla, honey and butterscotch. At first it ends with a long, smooth finish with some slight heat on the way down. After a few sips, it ends with a medium length, layered, clean finish. I was simply amazed how well this bourbon was blended at this small whiskey co. Truly a beautiful representation of what a modern Bourbon is and should be.

After the initial ethanol kick, this bourbon presents a Triple C aroma of corn, cedar, and citrus that is pleasant but not complex or intriguing. The sip is sweet initially with a crisp, dry mouthfeel providing just enough smooth, oily texture to suggest that a couple more years in the barrel would yield something truly special. On the way down, a spice punch in the back of the throat leads to a smooth, moderate finish with vanilla, caramel, and oak. Returning for another smell reveals raisin, molasses, and apple. It evokes a Michigan autumn. This bourbon clearly fits into the category of sipping whiskey but might be just on the edge of being a cocktail mixer. Overall, a balanced and easy bourbon from a young distillery showing much promise.

Aroma: fresh, bright, cool. Not quite mint or menthol, but similar to the cooling sensation from high rye bourbons. Young ethanol notes. Baking spices. Grass mixed with cornmeal. Subtle hints of honey and caramel beneath everything else. Palate: sweet corn with fresh dill. Charred oak. As it develops, there's youthful ethanol heat, black pepper, and rye spice. The finish is fairly short, starting with oak then fleeting mint oil.

The aroma is typical bourbon, surprisingly mature with pleasant oak and dark sweetness, plus a biscuity note that develops as it rests. The palate is brighter than the nose, bringing in some copper and light fruitiness that isn't bad. The youthfulness shows, but not in an unpleasant artificial way. The finish begins dark and oaky, then transitions to an interesting spicy-fruity note that is unexpectedly pleasing.

Had more going on in the aroma than the palate, but the palate started catching up the longer I sat with it and overall ended up being quite nice. The northern cold weather seems to have more influence than the summer heat... had a depth of cherry and cola more so than oak tannin (which was minimal). The rye comes through as a light accent, surprising considering it was 25% of the mash bill.

To me, this is classic bourbon, simple to sip, not overwhelming, just right with vanilla, caramel, and brown sugars. However, for my preference, it's missing a few elements. I'd prefer a higher proof, perhaps 100, and a slightly thicker texture as it drinks a bit thin. Overall, it meets a certain standard.