Winchester Kentucky Straight Bourbon

A close friend and business associate raves about this. He constantly asks if I've tasted it. Finally, while on a business trip, I gave in and purchased a small sample bottle from a local store. The aroma is like sweetened corn syrup mixed with bubble gum and green apple candy. It's excessively sweet and smells artificially produced. The initial taste mirrors the sweet corn syrup from the aroma. Candy corn combines with a tingly astringency... it tastes like someone tried to add sweetness and artificial flavors to poor-quality moonshine. The sweet corn syrup theme continues to the finish, but it becomes overly artificial fruit-flavored. It brings to mind gummy apple rings. Unexpectedly, there's a floral, perfume-like quality to the finish. Wow... this one is tough. I'm not entirely sure what I anticipated. I did finish my drink, though. It's not the worst thing I've ever tried, but if you're on a tight budget, you might consider Maker's Mark instead.

A nose dominated by honey gives way to a palate that initially suggests a less expensive scotch (like Famous Grouse) somehow ended up bottled at O.Z. Tyler. With a bit of aeration and time in the glass, faint, honeysuckle-like bourbon notes attempt to reveal themselves. Fortunately, 50ml sample sizes are available at retailers like Total Wine, allowing one to determine if a bottle like this merits inclusion in their collection. I'm uncertain if this would enhance an eggnog, but it might be acceptable in a highball, possibly.

Aroma: spearmint, maple syrup, cinnamon, sweet vanilla, butterscotch, marshmallow, light oak, subtle thyme, moderate ethanol burn. Flavor: maple syrup, salted caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, oak notes, moderate to high alcohol intensity, finishing quickly with sweet maple syrup, caramel, and young alcohol flavors. This is superior to the one-year-old bourbon, but not by a significant margin. It's slightly richer and less overwhelmingly sweet than its younger counterpart, but not particularly noteworthy.

A robust, Straight Bourbon Whiskey from South Carolina. Its aroma features notes of grains, wood, herbs, and spices. The body introduces notes of honey and corn, leading to an oaky finish of moderate duration. May 2017

Pleasant flavor and quite smooth.

Tastes young and a bit corny. It's somewhat smooth.