Very Olde St. Nick 8 Year Estate Reserve Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

I have so many questions. The 12 year Olde St. Nick is a top contender for my favorite new discovery of 2019, yet getting details about this distillery is incredibly difficult. The bottle states: “Produced and bottled by Olde St. Nick Distillery Bardstown, Kentucky, U.S.A.” To me, “Produced” suggests “not distilled.” If this is entirely sourced whiskey, then the bottle makes sense. Otherwise, I have no explanation. I suspect this one uses a different mash bill than the 12 year, and perhaps different aging methods too. They are that dissimilar. The aroma is packed with sugar, sweet tarts, honey, a hint of citrus, and walnuts. I realize listing so many scents sounds unbelievable, but it depends on your focus. If I'm looking for malty notes, I detect sugared walnuts. If I'm searching for the 12 year Olde St. Nick aroma, I find honey, citrus, and sweet tarts. The nose offers an incredibly intricate bouquet with everything imaginable. The body is unusual. It has almonds, walnuts, honey, and fresh grain. There's also leather. After some time, I can also discern chocolate and vanilla. The finish shifts to honey, citrus, and cinnamon. It leaves your mouth very dry. The finish is quite short with very little heat. All these questions. This cannot possibly be the same whiskey aged for 4 fewer years. The 12 year Olde St. Nick tastes like Buffalo Trace products, similar to Red Hook and E.H. Taylor. This tastes like Willett products, comparable to Noah's Mill or Willett Pot Still Reserve. This is an enjoyable bourbon, and if you are particularly fond of nutty bourbons, you should seek it out. However, I believe it contributes less to that flavor category (which already has many excellent, much cheaper bourbons) than the 12 year does to the tart-apple category. Full disclosure: I am extremely partial to tart-apple flavors. If I could only have one nutty bourbon, regardless of cost, this would be a strong contender. But I can name a dozen nutty bourbons I'd prefer to have two bottles of over this 8 year old. I can't say the same for the 12 year, and if you're considering spending the $161 required for this bottle, I recommend finding an extra $21 for the 12 year Olde St. Nick instead.

Nose: Cherry and licorice Palate: It's intriguingly good. It evolves. The first sip I tasted cherry. The second sip I got the caramel, vanilla, and all the spices. Finish: The finish is long-lasting and coats the tongue. Overall: I spent $170 on this bottle. Is it worth $170? I don't think many bourbons justify that price. This one is solid. Given the cost and limited availability, buying another one is quite impractical. At most, this should be a $90 bottle. That being said, it's a solid pour at 4/5 stars.

I've considered purchasing this bottle multiple times. Honestly, I'm relieved I didn't. My experience with that distillery is twofold. Their lower proof options are weak and uninspired. The full proof options are worthwhile. With this, I detect coconut, vanilla, mint, and black pepper. However, overall it's watery with a lacking finish, especially for an 8-year-old Rye. We've all accidentally diluted our drinks once or twice, and there's no recovering from it. Well, that's how this entire bottle is.

Nose: butterscotch, perhaps some apple (a fruit of some kind), a little caramel as well Taste: caramel, vanilla, apple, slight ethanol at the conclusion

Caramel and sweetness. Hints of butterscotch. Extremely smooth. A pleasant warmth all the way down, but not overly spicy. Fantastic bourbon.

Butterscotch, caramel, and possibly mint or apple? Regardless, it's extremely smooth and easy to drink!