Walking Stick Single Barrel Bourbon

This is the final pour from our Thanksgiving drinks. A bottle appeared at my child's place, origin unknown. Among our selections, the crowd favored Noble Oak and Crittenden's A Cut Above, both budget-friendly. Pinhook Bourbon Heist was the least popular, closely followed by Stellum Cygnus, and both were quite costly. We also sampled Dickel 8 yr, Huling Station small batch blend, Smoke Wagon Haloween Limited, Chatanooga 111, and Balcones Rye. So, what about this one? To put it simply, dull. Perhaps my palate was fatigued from the week's sampling, but the turkey soup at lunch was quite good. The aroma is very restrained, even after a few drops of water. There's a whisper of oaky vanilla and a touch of vegetal rye. Little else is present. The taste has a hint of caramel and absolutely no finish. However, the alcohol is not obvious. I've experienced worse, but mostly superior drinks, and I definitely wouldn't purchase it at any cost. An impromptu cocktail party has just been announced. The street is blocked off, and everyone is asked to bring their favorite bottle to share! More updates to follow.

Consumed neat in a glencairn glass. The aroma is very faint, making it difficult to discern specific notes. Perhaps some hay, alcohol, and a light caramel at best. The palate has a thin texture and a sweet element, with more burn than flavor. The finish includes some spice/pepper but very few other notes. Curiously, it becomes smoother as I drink it. The initial sip is hotter than subsequent ones. It's an "okay" experience, not a favorite, and I likely won't repurchase. My rating is 2.25.

I'm only giving this a 0.5 because it's a liquid and it's in a bottle. I absolutely despised this. The aroma is extremely thin rye spice mixed with alcohol. The taste is hot alcohol. Adding a teaspoon of water didn't help. There's no sweetness. Some people mention buttered popcorn; I get that, but it's too much effort to find that flavor for me. It tastes like Old Granddad. I ended up pouring half the bottle down the drain. It's just not for me. Others, especially fans of Old Granddad, might enjoy it. It was similar to Old Forester 100 proof for me. Gross.

Aroma: very traditional. Caramel Taste: Knowing it's a Sazerac product, I wondered if it was from BT or Barton before tasting. It's definitely Barton, as I detect that characteristic Barton cinnamon, but it's not overwhelming. It's present just enough to be enjoyable and carries through. Finish: The cinnamon spice lingers, making for a very pleasant drink, exceeding 90 proof. I purchased it at ABC in Florida for $35 and consider it great value. I'd be interested in a side-by-side comparison with 1792 Small Batch.

I sampled this bourbon on roughly three separate occasions, attempting to appreciate it, but it ultimately served only as a mixer for me. Bourbon isn't necessarily bad, it's just very uninspired and adequate. The bottle design is basic, the label appears cheap and unattractive in my view, and it's priced between $30 and $40. This spirit drinks more like a bottle costing under $20. When used as a mixer, I removed this one from my collection. If it were less expensive, I would raise my rating.

First time with this bourbon - probably the last considering the cost, as it was quite disappointing. It's a bit sharp at first on the tongue, then mellows somewhat on the finish, which is acceptable. Suggest serving with a couple of ice cubes to help it open up and reduce the initial intensity.