Very Olde St. Nick 17 Year Lost Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

It's 2020. It's December. Let's finish this year with a brand new whiskey (or whisky) every day. It's my own personal whiskey advent calendar. +6! Dec. 17, 2020 A while back, I tried the 12-year Very Olde St. Nick and was so curious that I did some research. Here's the relevant information on this 17-year Very Olde St. Nick and its brand: 1. Owner Marci Palatella seems to be the sole owner, despite speculation that the brand was revived and renamed overseas in 2000. 2. Olde St. Nick first appeared in the 1980s, using old barrels sourced by Palatella from figures like Julian Van Winkle and Evan Kulsveen (Heaven Hill distillate). 3. In the past, whiskey enthusiasts have flagged Olde St. Nick labels for potentially violating 27 CFR 5.40 (a) - non-straight whiskies without an age statement. 4. Previously, Olde St. Nick labels were flagged by whiskey fans for failing to list the state of distillation (this might not be an issue if it was distilled in CA, the only state mentioned on the labels in question). 5. There are whispers that Marci has been involved in college admissions scandals. 6. Marci claims Diageo sold Very Olde St. Nick barrels that Diageo considered too aged to retain value (over 12 years). 7. These barrels were supposedly made under Julian Van Winkle's supervision at the old Stitzel-Weller plant around 1981. 8. Seventeen years later, they were vatted and shipped to California for... reasons. 9. For the next 21 years, the distillate sat in steel, doing nothing, again for... reasons. 10. In 2019, the distillate was bottled and released in 375ml bottles with an MSRP just under $600. I've heard another batch was released in 2020, but I haven't seen it. Tasting notes: This nose is primarily tart cherries. You can smell it from across the room. A hint of lemon, cedar, molasses. There's some dustiness there too. Body hits with a cherry bomb upfront. Real cherries, too. Grape and pear follow. It strongly resembles a really good sangria. Molasses appears at the back of the body. I swear you could sip this slowly for hours and discover new things. I just detected maple syrup. Finish has orange, cinnamon, pepper, cherry, leather, cedar. Surprisingly spicy for a fruity body. Incredibly smooth. I'm including the whiskey's history and Marci's story out of respect for the Sagan standard: "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." This whiskey makes some extraordinary claims, but where's the proof? It drives me crazy that a company could have something this special and be so indifferent about it. If my distillate had such a remarkable story, I'd get a tattoo of it on my face. VOSN won't even put a meaningful description on the back of the bottle. They state: "This Lost Barrel is the very last of some of the rarest Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey in existence." That's it. This might be the biggest clue to me that the story I've told isn't true. It wouldn't make sense not to boast about that pedigree if it were accurate. On the other hand, it's very rare for a whiskey to taste so exceptional that it can make time stand still. This drink transports me back to sipping sangria on the coast of Calpe. I enjoy taking a sip and then sitting in silence for 5 minutes before having another. I've shared this with good friends, and they've also been amazed by the quality. All of that makes me really want to believe the story I've just shared is true. So, I will. 'Tis the season. My whiskey choice is day-to-day, so if you're reading this and want me to try something readily available this holiday season, whether for enjoyment or suffering, leave your suggestions in the comments. Merry whiskey to all, and to all a beer flight!

Aroma - cherry is prominent and combines with molasses notes, creating a distinct cherry Pepsi aroma (I love it!) Body - pleasantly sweet initially, then shifts to a tart cherry, finishing with dark chocolate malt Finish - A bitter tartness gives way to woody tannins reminiscent of sassafras. This finish lingers. It's one of the richest bourbons I've had and truly an experience that matches the bourbon's dark character. This is like a decadent dessert bourbon, definitely meant for sipping. Thank you for the pour, Milliardo.

After letting mine rest a bit following my initial review... wow. It's a cherry explosion with a very oily mouth-coating sensation.

I opened mine and had the first pour from the bottle. Very dark, very oily. I need to let it rest for a couple of weeks and try it again.

Smells of rich cherry, sweet vanilla, and woody oak. Lovely deep color and a dense, syrupy texture. Enjoyed my small taste.

The 20 year bottling was preferred over the 17 year; it was quite enjoyable.