Zackariah Harris Bourbon

I hadn't encountered this label prior to spotting it at my local store. Found a small sample size on clearance at a liquor retailer for a couple of dollars. It's bottled at 80 proof and described as bourbon aged for a minimum of 36 months. You never know what you'll get, so I decided to try it. The spirit has a very pale hue and is packaged in plastic. I sampled it straight in a glencairn glass. The aroma right after pouring is quite faint, but nothing unpleasant. Surprisingly, there are no chemical smells like acetone or ethanol. I let it rest for about ten minutes before assessing. Following the rest period, the nose is subtle, with a hint of paint thinner and sweet notes reminiscent of movie theater popcorn. There isn't much to strongly appreciate or dislike. In essence, the aroma is rather unremarkable. This spirit is quite thin, leaving minor trails on the glass after swirling with very little residual liquid. My first taste is sweet and genuinely quite pleasant. It's very mild. There's a gentle peppery finish that lingers for a short duration. I detect a touch of vanilla, sweet caramel, and a faint hint of spice. This is obviously a low-proof spirit, and I doubt it would perform well in mixed drinks. I imagine it might work in a heavily sweetened old fashioned, the type often found in 'whiskey bars' catering to novices eager for expensive bourbons. However, it definitely wouldn't hold its own against vermouth or even soda. Perhaps with cola if one dislikes the taste of whiskey. It's very watery and lacks substance. Nevertheless, it's not entirely bad. I think I prefer it over Jim Beam White Label (which I strongly dislike), though it's been a while since I last tried that one. It's acceptable if budget is a primary concern and your expectations are low. I would choose this neat over Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 neat every time... On my personal scale, a 2.5 represents the average. Most competent mass-market whiskies should fall between 2 and 3 on this scale. This particular bourbon earns a surprising 2.25, with an additional quarter point awarded for its excellent value. It's not something I'm likely to repurchase. I previously bought Jim Beam's Repeal Prohibition bourbon on sale for a similar price and found it to be superior. This bourbon is skippable, but I don't have a strong aversion to it.

Very thin, with minimal flavor. I detected very little ethanol, and the only taste was a spice, either cinnamon or peppercorn. The aroma is much superior to the taste. Perhaps it would perform better in a blind tasting. I cannot envision any cocktails for which this would be suitable. Drinkable, affordable, but not worth repurchasing.

Better than anticipated. 80 proof makes it light and thin, yet surprisingly enjoyable. A hint of solvent on the nose hints at the price, but it's fantastic juice for $9.99

This bourbon is a solid choice when someone wants a bourbon mixed with coke, or something similar. The value is excellent, and you won't regret them mixing it with a premium spirit like Eagle Rare or Blanton.

Classic bourbon characteristics: vanilla, caramel, a sweetness like pudding, and some spice. It seemed to become spicier as it sat, with a very brief finish. Decent.

VANILLA. Notes of wood, a trace of clove, and an overall corn sweetness. It's not bad, but it's not remarkable. Smooth and easy to drink!