W.B. Saffell Kentucky Straight Bourbon

It's 2020. It's December. Let's conclude this year with a new whiskey (or whisky) each day. It's my own personal whiskey advent calendar. Plus 6! Dec. 8, 2020. The Whiskey Barons Collection. Bourbon enthusiasts interested in bourbon's history should research these individuals. It involves ancestor veneration, delving into past bourbon eras, and restoring old residences of deceased individuals with well-known names. All of that. This is the fourth and most recent offering in this collection. I was a big admirer of the Bond & Lillards, and I hope this meets expectations. The aroma is reminiscent of sweet tarts. There's powdered sugar, citrus, oak, apple, jelly... swirling it reveals numerous elements. The body consists of pears, flowers, and vanilla. An unusual combination. I wonder if you would enjoy that? So do I. The finish is occasionally excessively sweet. The pear and cane sugar can become overwhelming when you breathe incorrectly, and at those moments, the mild cinnamon (which I would typically appreciate) becomes an obstacle to your enjoyment. Cloyingly sweet... which is uncommon in the bourbon world. This is a significant disappointment for me. It's acceptable, though overpriced as a 375mL. I questioned why B&L sold out quickly while this one remains available. I've consumed far worse, but I wouldn't suggest this to a friend. This saddens me because these "Whiskey Barons" produced Bond & Lillard 2, which was excellent but slightly fell short of the even more magnificent original Bond & Lillard 1, and now I must reconcile that with the fact that they created this. I haven't tried Old Ripy yet, but I'm now apprehensive. A 2 out of 3 success rate is a much better track record than 2 out of 4, and even if I'm late to the event, I'll maintain my own perspective for as long as possible. Perhaps I'll open that one next year. It's the season. My whiskey selection is day-to-day, so if you're reading this and there's something readily available you'd like me to experience positively or negatively this holiday season, leave it in the comments. Merry whiskey to all, and to all a beer flight!

The aroma is truly exceptional; it has notes of peanut shells, cinnamon sugar, chewy caramel candies, red apples, citrus zest, charred barrel, warehouse dampness, and mellow wood. It’s intricate, substantial, and completely lacks any alcohol burn. The taste is like an enhanced version of Wild Turkey 101. Rich caramel custard, vanilla pods, Spanish peanuts, crème brûlée (both the creamy filling and the caramelized sugar topping), sugared pears, and cinnamon bark. Some descriptions might seem unusually detailed because the individual components are that prominent. The flavors are strong and assertive, and I’m here for it. The finish slowly transforms into notes of cinnamon gummy bears, nutmeg, pimento, char, and sweet wood, persisting for an extended period. The texture is very viscous and suits the drink perfectly. It's a contender for one of the finest Wild Turkey offerings I've ever experienced, and a powerful bourbon. So, a perfect score? Not quite. I don't know the suggested retail price, but I spent $84 for this half bottle. Even if I paid a significant amount over, it would still be too expensive. Seriously, why wasn't this available in a standard 750ml bottle for around $60? Hmm? A fantastic spirit but a poor value proposition. It earns a 4.0 despite the high likelihood of not purchasing it again.

Product: W.B. Saffell Bourbon Batch 1 Alcohol by Volume: 107 / 53.5% Color: Amber Nose: Caramel with a strong ethanol presence, followed by peanut shells and oak. Flavors: Somewhat complex, featuring forward rye spice, corn, and brown sugar in the mid-palate, concluding with cinnamon and oak. Sweetness: 3.5 / 10 Not particularly sweet for my palate. Dryness: 4 / 10 Features a creamy and buttery palate, offering a good mouthfeel. Burn: 5.5 / 10 A pleasant, rich burn that provides a nice warmth in the chest and a lasting finish. My rating: 6 / 10 If one needed a basic representation of "what bourbon tastes like," this might serve as an example. I must preface this by stating my history with Wild Turkey has been disappointing; I haven't yet found one that truly impresses me. Interestingly, when I tasted this and recorded notes in my bourbon journal, I was unaware it was a Wild Turkey product. I often find myself desiring more from the Wild Turkey offerings I've tried, and this seems to fit that pattern. Their whiskey simply doesn't align with my palate. It's a competent bourbon, but at best, average for me.

The aroma is strongly reminiscent of a cigar humidor, evoking notes of tobacco and wood, perhaps cedar. As it breathes, hints of pretzel and a touch of sweetness emerge. The color is a bright, crisp copper. The initial sip suggests a high rye mashbill, with good spice throughout. It's biscuity, bitter, and spicy, all in a pleasant way. It's one of the most bitter bourbons I've encountered. Peppery spice is prominent on top, with a balancing sweetness just beneath the surface. Adding three drops of water diminished the aroma but intensified the spice dramatically. The finish becomes significantly more pronounced with the addition of water. Patience is key with this spirit in the glass. Notes of cocoa and chocolate appear, and the balance between spice and sweetness becomes just right. I strongly recommend drinking it with water. The heat indicates it's well over 100 proof. It's good, but I'm uncertain if it justifies the high price point.

Perhaps the most distinctive pour from Wild Turkey. For aficionados of everything WT, this will undoubtedly distinguish itself from the typical WT and Russell’s selections. W. B. Saffell strongly features wood with minimal oil, hints of tobacco, and even chocolate upfront. It’s rich with baking spices from start to finish, evoking some of the superior Russell’s picks. All in all, it’s a combination and flavor profile not commonly encountered. It’s logical they restricted its availability to a pint size. It may not appeal to everyone seeking traditional bourbon, but those desiring an exploration will value the journey and grasp its restricted distribution.

First experience with this one. Opened the bottle and poured a bit neat into a glencarin glass after a short rest. Nose - Impressive complexity. Notes of caramel, apple, vanilla, and bright citrus linger alongside brown sugar. Taste - Vanilla leads the way, quickly followed by clove and oak. The texture is buttery and rich. A remarkably balanced bourbon where the sweet notes transition into a mild spice from the clove and the 107 proof. Overall - The aroma and palate are superb. I'd give the nose a perfect 10/10 and the taste an 8/10. This small bottle with an attractive design is essential for any bourbon enthusiast.