Blood Oath Pact No. 2 Bourbon

This is the second annual release of Blood Oath Bourbon.  Similar to the first, it’s a blended bourbon of three different whiskeys, and is a onetime limited release. I'm typing limited with a smirk on my face because there are about 22k bottles available.

  Details:
-Blend consists of the following:
-7 year rye bourbon finished in port barrels
-11  year wheated bourbon
-11 year rye bourbon
-98.6 proof (human body temperature)
-Price: $99

Nose: Pact No. 2 boasts a nutty aroma with a sweet tinge. Plenty of vanilla, with dried fruits, cherries, and cocoa powder.

Taste: Bursting with red fruit sweetness, it’s velvety and soft. It’s a nice mixture of sweet corn, vanilla cream, peanuts, and black pepper.  The spice intensifies toward the end. 

Finish: Longer than anticipated. Mellow vanilla lingers with a backbone of spice and oak. 

Conclusion: Blood Oath Pact No. 2 is good bourbon. I'm normally not a fan of port barrel finished whiskey, but as this was only the case for 1/3 of the blend, I found it rather enjoyable. At $99, it's 10 bucks more than Pact No. 1. I hope this trend doesn't continue in years to come. The marketing is amazing, but don't let it fool you.

My Rating:  B (Good)
 
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Bourbon Brothers Review:

 

E.H. Taylor Jr. Rye Whiskey

Recently I've been delving into the world of E.H. Taylor Jr. whisky. It's a nice world indeed, and if you have never taken a trip, I suggest you pack your bags and get spontaneous. Today for review, I'm enjoying E.H. Taylor Straight Rye. Buffalo Trace uses a unique mashbill for this whiskey, consisting of a vast majority of rye with some barley...no corn! I was very surprised to learn this as all other Buffalo Trace rye -i.e. Sazerac 18 and Baby Saz- contain a significant amount of corn. 

Details:

-At least 4 years old

-100 proof 

-Price: $70

Nose: Herbs and fresh mint pop at front of the nose. Fresh dill, some black pepper, and rye spice combine for a vivacious aroma.

Taste: Waves of spice crash on the tip of the palate. Mint and caramel follow, with a subtle sweetness fading in and out. There is a decent dose of green/herbal notes. The flavors all seem vibrant and fresh. A lengthy, savory, and spicy backbone combines for a nice depth. 

Finish: Medium in length with more of that dominant spice.

Conclusion: With such a high rye content, this tastes similar to the typical Monongahela Rye being mass produced in Indiana, except it's way better. I will say, this took some time to open up. It is by no means a cheap whiskey, and I was dead set on giving this a "B" rating until I worked my way into the bottle.

My Rating:  B+ (Very Good)

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Bourbon Brothers Review:

Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon

This is a brand new whiskey from Bulleit Distillery which is limited and currently only sold in Kentucky. My brother in law picked this up at the distillery gift shop earlier this year during his second stent on the bourbon trail.

 Details:
-No Age Statement
-119 proof 
-Price: $50

Nose: Immediately you smell a brown sugar and cinnamon note. The typical caramel and vanilla sweetness follows. There is a subtle spice lurking in the background as well. Nothing too complex; at cask strength you are predominantly getting those heavy barrel components.

Taste: Extremely smooth- this doesn't drink like a barrel proof bourbon. On the tip of the tongue is a nice marshmallow sweetness. It's fairly nutty, with graham cracker and pepper spice to balance it all out.

Finish: Medium in length with slight spice and oak.

Conclusion: This is a very smooth and drinkable bourbon. I'm just surprised this is barrel proof; the flavors aren't extremely bold or exciting. I do enjoy this more than the flagship, 90 proof Bulleit bourbon. It's a solid whiskey but the price tag makes me think twice about buying another bottle.

My Rating:  B (Good)

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