Wathen's Single Barrel Bourbon

This is a KSBW from Wathen's, made by Charles Medley Distillery at 94.0 Proof. Welcome back to my bourbon show. You all have been so amazing with the messages, comments, likes, subscriptions, and shares. Thank you. Today we are trying Wathen's Single Barrel Bourbon, a barrel pick from Southern Spirits nicknamed “Creamy Lemon Scone”. It tastes as good as it sounds. This is a single barrel from Charles Medley Distillery. The mashbill is 77% Corn, 13% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye. It has a softer, sweeter profile with enough rye to be interesting. It has no age statement, but based on the color and flavor, I would guess it's 4-6 years old. Some say it could be 8 or 9 years, but I doubt it. The source is officially unknown, but I suspect it's from Green River Distilling. The Wathen family legacy dates back to 1645, and they claim to have made the first bourbon in Kentucky in 1788. This pour has history, legend, and lots of flavor. Watch the full review where I taste, speculate, and discuss the buttery-citrus notes of “Creamy Lemon Scone”. Let me know if you would buy it or if you've tried another Wathen's barrel pick you liked or disliked. Comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. I plan to post about 5 reviews a week, so let me know your requests. Sip slow, stay curious, and may your whiskey always be older than your passwords. Cheers.

Nose: Light with a faint medicinal note, perhaps a whisper of clover. Palate: Generally smooth with some bitter wildflower notes and an overall light flavor. Finish: Concludes rapidly with a lingering taste of cinnamon and a tingle. This is an acceptable bottle; for a $40 single barrel, it's priced appropriately but won't become a staple in my collection. I generally prefer sweeter profiles, though some might appreciate this if their palate leans towards tartness. The second and third tastes are considerably more enjoyable than the initial one.

While the aroma is appealing, the finish is a delayed, intense heat originating in the stomach and rapidly ascending. Any pleasure derived from the taste (which is quite nice) is swiftly overshadowed by the sensation of consuming liquid napalm. On a brighter note, it performed exceptionally well in cooking, complementing both chicken and beef. I didn't experiment with it as a mixer or on the rocks, as ice sometimes mitigates the burn some bourbons produce on the finish.

After several servings, I genuinely wished to enjoy this single barrel selection. It's adequate, but doesn't distinguish itself from the multitude of other available bourbons. The nose presents notes of light caramel and oak. The initial taste offers light orange, caramel, and light oak, with a slight burn. The mid-palate and finish maintain these flavor profiles, but the burn seems to persist excessively at the conclusion.

Enjoyed a glass with my neighbor last night during the first 80-degree day. My previous experience with this was just okay and somewhat disappointing. Last night's glass was unexpectedly pleasing, and I intend to conduct a full tasting later. Initially, I would have advised against it, but it has improved significantly after allowing it to breathe.

Nose: Cinnamon, vanilla, very sweet. Palate: Caramel, baking spices, subtle oak notes, finishing with peanut butter. Overall: This could be one of my preferred daily drinkers. It suits my taste for sweetness. I wish it had more complexity, but I will always keep a bottle of this on hand.