Very Old Barton 90 Proof Bourbon

Continuing to review bottles in my collection that I've not yet reviewed. The color is Pantone 152. Nose presents toffee, vanilla, faint butterscotch, carrot cake, and a hint of tobacco. There's some light viscosity and body on the palate, starting sweet but becoming spicy with cinnamon red hots and a touch of tannic dryness. The 90 proof is apparent on the long finish, which carries some faint woody tannins before concluding with some dry leathery notes. This is a NAS bourbon, but is at least four years old due to the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey designation. It can typically be found for under $20. It lacks the complexity for contemplative sipping, but I'd certainly keep a bottle on hand. 3.0 on the reviewer's scale. Note: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

This whiskey doesn't really get me fired up. However, for the incredibly low price of $13, you're unlikely to find a better value on any spirit. It's difficult to locate—I've only found it twice in eight months. So, how does it taste? It's acceptable. A little dry, with a hint of oddness. But a bourbon enthusiast needn't worry; they'll likely be mostly content... it's not as refined or bold as the premium stuff.

Brown sugar, cinnamon bark, tangerine, toffee, clove, star anise, bananas foster, basil, spicy rye, nutmeg, lingering vanilla beans. It took some time to open up. You can't beat the cost and proof; it's an inexpensive buffalo trace. I can comprehend why these are difficult to locate. Similar to mellow corn, these were once even more budget-friendly just a few years ago.

Nose - Pepper and sweet tea. Body - This is a spicy one with black pepper, a little cinnamon, and a cherry note. Finish - Herein lies the problem. The dark stone fruit, which I enjoy, gives way to an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.

I'm not much of an expert but this one tastes a bit different than other bourbons I've tried. I like it a lot. A little hard to find lately, but it's very cheap and pretty damn smooth. $23 for 1750 ml.

Surprisingly good bourbon for the price. More complex than other bottom-shelf labels. Can’t compete with most medium to high-priced bourbons, but it’s quite good for what it is. Would be a good well bourbon for cocktails.