Alright time for some whiskey, and this time we go for some good ol’ southern bourbon instead of scotch. While Islay may pack a punch, this packs a whole whollup. Normally I ignore a bourbon set at a higher proof as being anything more than a bit boozy, but this is so hot Chris Tucker is reprising his role from Fifth Element.
Part of me wishes I could give this a lower score, but the problem is that while I am not a terrible fan of this type of whiskey – I ultimately respect those who like it. I understand that this is desirable for some folks, but give me a nice mint julep than this bootlegger whiskey.
What they Say: “Genuine old line sour mash, quality unchanged since 1849. Distilled by Buffalo Trace Distiller, Frankfort, Kentucky. The original wheated bourbon.”
Taste: 6.0 – For a brief second or two it’s a nice sweet bourbon.
Aftertaste: 4.0 – However the taste then becomes ‘hot’ which I assume some folks from the south may enjoy, and I can’t fault them for it (I mean I love Islay scotches).
Burn/Smooth: 1.0 – I review booze for a website, and this made me do the whiskey-face. Sorry but this is not smooth.
Aroma: 5.0 – It’s like the power of Big Red cinnamon, but without the taste of cinnamon. I know there’s the term ‘running hot’ which really isn’t just because of proof – but is so here. I dislike it, but that’s personal.
Honesty: 8.0 – The nice shape of the bottle, rich reddish color, lack of wank and the power behind this – simply make it a great whiskey.
Mixability: 5.0
W/ Rocks: 4.0 – It takes that little initial taste and blends it away. It is less powerful, but I would not say improved.
Whiskey and Coke: 6.0 – That makes a serviceable, and at least lets me know how this bottle will be used.
Value: 3.5 – Sorry but if this was some low-tier whiskey I could respect that price. I bought this as an attempt to try some more higher shelf whiskies.
Google Shop Average: $31
Website: http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 4.0
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Metric Score: 32.5/70 |+| Metric Average: 4.64 |+| Reviewer Average: 4.0
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Final Thoughts: If you are a fan of the style, this is a good buy and it likely will not kill you while a lower shelf whiskey would. However that’s a small niche and for the rest of us, try another bourbon.
This stuff is impossible to get now, but my brother-in-law, who lives in Texas received an 1.75L of this as a gift. Neither he, nor his friends drink whiskey, so it is always there when I visit. I like it a lot, but not enough to go to the trouble of trying to find it nowadays.