1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon 8 Year

Look: Dark orange, slight alcohol legs, and translucent. Nose: Fairly sweet smells, with a mix of some baking spices. Fruit forward I’d say. Palate: Cinnamon, black pepper up front, underlying sweetness with caramel mid palate, followed by a more spice dominated finish. Finish: Dry, and fairly hot. I get a bready note in the finish, as well as plenty of spice. Later in the finish, some grape peel comes up. Overall: A fairly good bourbon, relative simple, but easy to drink. Little bit of heat, but perhaps that’s from some rust if not drinking whiskey for a while.

Color: Glazed donut Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy yet thin Legs: short/medium legs, lower proof Nose: Honey, fried apples and stone fruit, particularly cherry. Some baking spice essence Palate: Almost no alcohol. Caramel, cherry, vanilla that quickly fades into oak spiced heavy whipping cream Finish: Finish is medium in length, from fruit quickly into cream then oak before falling flat Overall Impression: Overall I enjoyed this. Easy drinking with enough going on to keep it interesting Rating: 5.5

Excellent bourbon for the money. I've used the 8-year in two different blind bourbon tastings, pairing it against bourbons far more expensive (including Weller 12-year and Old Rip Van Winkle 10), and it's come out in the top-two both times. Easy win for the money. This isn't my favorite sipping whiskey, but it's a real crowd pleaser if you can find it.

Smoky, spicy, peppery favors are subdued by oily and rich accents that immediately follow and continue thru the long finish. Fullness that comes with higher rye content is impressive. This is a top “available” mid-priced bourbon IMO. And if you like a charred barrel flavor this one delivers. I drink it with Topo Chico and ice.

Nose: Sweet rye, clove and raisins. Taste: Starts off light, but quickly goes into a sharper peppery taste with a tingely burn. Finish lingers quite long with light clove and oak. Verdict: strong character and pleasent experience. I am impressed for a bourbon.

5 stars for the 1.75 liters, 4 stars for the 0.75L + 20% chance the cork will fail. Jan2016 marketing is to withhold 1.75L, slightly diminish .75L quality more available + increase small bottle prices by ~30%