Willet Pot Still Reserve Bourbon

This one has been sitting on the shelf for a long time- The bottle design (a classic copper pot still) is fantastic and makes for a great conversation piece. This is a single barrel product, so there is always going to be some variation barrel to barrel. This was bottle #58 of 222, from single barrel #9546. It is bottled at 94 proof. I found the flavor profile has grown on me after 2-3 tasting sessions. Purchased for $39.99.

Color: Copper Amber

Nose:Very pleasant. Maraschino cherries, vanilla, clove, dark chocolate, salted caramel, subtle mint. 

Taste: On the front end I'm getting caramel, maple syrup, vanilla, and salted popcorn. This transitions to notes of spice, oak and black pepper.  

Finish: Spice lingers. Buttered popcorn, caramel, spice, oak. 

Conclusion: This is a very drinkable bourbon. It has a unique flavor profile which is subtle yet balanced. It is readily available at most stores so definitely give this one a try! 

My Rating: B+ (Very Good) 

Video Review: 

W.L. Weller Special Reserve Bourbon

The wife and I recently went to visit my parents in Memphis for the holidays. My father picked this up and it was on the counter when we arrived. Little did I know he also got us a bottle of William L. Weller for Christmas which we got a few days later. W.L. Weller bourbons replace the rye grain with wheat which makes for a smoother taste. Now, down to business: W.L. Weller Special Reserve is bottled at 90 proof. This was purchased it for $26.99 here in Memphis.

Color: Light Amber with an orange tint

Nose: Very sweet upfront. Vanilla, caramel, burnt sugars, apples, oak.

Taste: Light mouthfeel. Sweetness dominates. Creamy vanilla, honey, caramel, and corn. The mid palate transforms into sour apples and salty butter notes, and ends with notes of water soaked oak.

Finish: "And It's Gone"...short finish. Sweet yet slightly bitter.

Conclusion: Very sweet. It's smooth going down with little to no burn. This is a decent wheated bourbon for the price. Weller bourbons are a tough find these days and that creates a similar hype to more expensive and limited offers. While I think Weller 107 and Weller 12 deserve the hype, this Weller Special Reserve falls short of expectations.

My Rating: C (Decent)

Follow @Blundon_Bourbon 

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon

Happy New Year from The Blundon Bourbon Review! Something about snow just makes me want to drink and review bourbon. Tonight for you I have Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve. This is currently my go to, higher proof bourbon for when I don't feel like drinking or opening a bottle of my BTAC or Pappy. KCSBR is aged for 9 years, and is 120 proof. Purchased for $40.

Color: Dark Orange, Amber

Nose: Corn, cherries, brown sugar, bubblegum, cola, green apple.

Taste: (Neat from a Glencarin Glass) Sweet notes of burnt caramel, vanilla, sugar, bubblegum. On the back end I get notes of cinnamon, salt, black pepper followed by a nutty toffee, subtle rye spice, and dry oak.

Finish: Sugar, bubblegum and nut toffee linger with saltly notes taking over for a bitter end.

Conclusion: If you are a frequent flyer with my reviews, you know I prefer barrel proof bourbons with bold flavors. There are alot of good things about this juice; it's readliy available, it's 120 proof, and it has a $40 price tag. The flavors are simple, yet bold and compliment each other well.

Rating: B+ (Very Good)

Follow @Blundon_Bourbon


Bourbon Brothers Review:

Four Roses Small Batch LE 2013 (125th Anniversary)

Hello from The Blundon Bourbon Review!  Four Roses is known for using a multitude of recipes in their small batch bourbon and the 2013 vintage contains the following: OBSV- 18 years/ OBSK- 13 years/ OESK 13 years.

As with all four roses LE releases, this 750ML bottle is barrel strength (uncut w/ water) and is 103.2 proof. It was purchased for $89.99

Color: Caramel and Amber

Nose: Sweet corn, creamy vanilla, cherries, cigars, oak.

Taste: Rye spice from beginning to end. Raspberries, cherries, apricot. Brown sugar, vanilla. The 18 year old in the blend adds a little oak tannin but it is balanced fairly well by the sweetness of the other two 13 year old blends.

Finish: Sweetness and fruitiness linger for gentle yet warming finish. 

Conclusion: There are a lot of subtle flavors that create an overall balanced bourbon. The fruit notes are delicious and live up to the Four Roses brand. It falls short on the depth expected for a limited release. This is very good and I enjoyed reviewing it, but It doesn't hold a candle to vintage 2012.

 My Rating: B+ (Very Good)

George T. Stagg (2013 Release)

Happy Holidays from The Blundon Bourbon Review! Another cold, snowy day in Baltimore means bourbon in the belly. Tonight it is my pleasure to leave you with a review of the 2013 release of George T. Stagg. I'll tell you what, this bad guy was a tough one to find, but the hunt paid off (as it always does)!

This 750ML bottle of uncut, unfiltered bourbon whiskey is 128.2 proof- making it only the second time in the fourteen releases that it has dropped down into the 120′s . This 2013 release is 15 years and 11 months old. Purchased for $99.99

Color-A dark, rich amber

Nose- Sweet yet balanced. Caramel candy, bananas foster, rolled tobacco, vanilla, maple syrup, cherries. There are certainly some floral notes here...red roses.

Taste- (Neat from a Glencarin Glass) At the tip of my palate is dark fudge, sweet vanilla and brown sugar. Notes of black pepper, tobacco, and rye follow on the back end. The heat is there, however, the flavors present themselves with very little burn. I don't normally comment on texture, but this has a great thick mouthfeel that coats the tongue in an elegant manner. The legs are long and beautiful in the glass.

Finish: Fudge and black pepper prevail with the classic rye spice and a little bit of corn.

Conclusion- I was really excited to get my hands on a bottle of GTS, and I must say it has lived up to my expectations. The sweetness is perfectly balanced and I look forward to hunting down the 2014 release next fall.

My Rating: A+ (Premium)

Video Review: