Troy & Sons Oak Reserve 7 Year

T&S Oak Reserve 7YR (Aged in ex-Woodford Reserve Barrels) *NOSE: A dominant plastic/vinyl ester smell is present. Beneath that are notes of butterscotch, corn syrup, vanilla, and cornmeal. These blend with a rubbery scent, giving it an almost "rum-like" character. *NEAT: Initially, it's promising as the plastic scent (reminiscent of a new shower curtain) isn't overpowering. It's noticeable but mild, reminding you it's corn whiskey, but a DRY corn whiskey. You get dry cornbread, creamed corn, and dry bitter tannins. A touch of vanilla offers slight sweetness. Then it takes a turn. It concludes with a sharp bite and, there it is, an unpleasant coating of that chemical plastic/vinyl note. Disgusting. *SPLASH: A little water or a large ice cube improves the palate somewhat. It's less dry with a peppery tingle and some oak finally emerges. The plastic note shifts to leather, and you detect a bit more vanilla. *VERDICT: I really wanted to enjoy this as it's a product from North Carolina and I delayed the review hoping it would improve. I recall liking the NAS version years ago (and even suggested it could benefit from more barrel aging in my review), so I assumed extra age would be better. I was very wrong. While water/ice somewhat salvaged it, I cannot recommend this, no matter how much I want to. Not at all.