Belle Meade Bourbon Madeira Cask Finish

Belle Meade - is the name French or Old English? What does it matter - they are producing amazing bourbon journeys that drink like, and approach, single malts. I bought this gift box of 3X375ml bottles for $89.95, encompassing three cask expressions: this one, the Cognac Cask, and the Sherry Cask. It's a bargain in my book, and I like the direction Belle Meade is going with all of them. In my dreams, if I were the Chairman of the Board of bourbon, I'd call this 9 year old spirit, 'Chest Candy'. The expert notes are succinct, without hype or mystery. Again, the taste profile equals some entry-level scotches, sans the nuttiness. Is this a unicorn bottle on the cheap? No... but it won't suck unicorn c**k just to drink it, either... Recently, after a dram of this, I poured myself a "regular"-casked bourbon. And lo and behold, that was delicious like no-one's business. I think a bottle of this can, and will, increase appreciation of your liquor cabinet. It did mine. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Second of cask finish trio. Ok now we are getting somewhere. I like this much more than the cognac finish. Deep rich color, thick pungent nose, heavy handed flavors and long finish. Poured neat, nose is meaty dark red fruits(mainly black cherry), sweet pipe tobacco, salted nuts and varnished oak. Let it air out and in comes some super ripe peach and the spicy rye nudges its way in too. Mouth feel on all the Belle Meades is very good no exception here. Palate is healthy smack of toffee, cherry and spicy rye. There's dark chocolate, nuts and sweet barrel. Its full of long lasting flavors that carry to finish. Cocoa and molasses with rye and oak ride off into the sunset. The fruits linger in the background to complete the show. Tad hot for proof but so good it doesn't matter. This is very similar to some of the better Old Forester variants so if you like OF100 or 1920 you will most likely be a fan. Is it worth the high price tag($70-80) well that's up to you. I think its more complex and refined than OF and the bottle has improved dramatically since opening so I just may spring for the 750ml of this..........90/100......Leaves only the sherry finish and L&G we have a clear winner

Neat. Neck pour. Wine influence is heavy upfront. Like a dark raspberry jam. Behind that is oak with a hint of peanut. Vanilla surfaces as I get used to the other flavors. Baking spices emerges upfront. Perfect bourbon to try right before Thanksgiving. I can imagine this going quite well with Turkey, gravy, cranberries. Rich, coating mouth but not creamy. Medium oil. The vanilla and wine influence is intense in the tongue from the start. Kicks you in the teeth with the raspberries and berries. Like biting into a berry and choose just explodes around the rest of your mouth. Vanilla, oak and a hint of chocolate stay behind on the medium-short legs. I am impressed by this. The Madeira leaves a stronger impression than the Sherry and Port finished whiskeys I have tried. Those deep fruit/jam flavors are overwhelming and intense but subside to let the whiskey shine too. Quite happy about this.

Tasted as part of the cask finish 3x 375ml pack (Sherry, Madeira & Cognac.) I tend to be a purist and don't always enjoy cask finishes but Belle Meade has a way of making the cask finish shine while maintaining a balance with the bourbon. I prefer the sherry the most, then the maderia and then the cognac. All three are quite smooth. The sherry has a nice sweetness to it and is the most interesting. The maderia has an earthy flavor and a medium sweetness. The cognac is definitely the hottest of the three. $100 for 3x 375ml

I’ve had their regular bourbon, which I enjoy. So I thought I’d spice it up with this one. On the nose I get vanilla, sweet leather, baking spices, some smokiness, a little rye and plumb. I also get raisins on later nosings. The palate is rich, oily and has a nice sweetness. I get some oak, cherries and some rye spice. The finish is is nice and long with a slight bitterness on the end. Fairly easy to drink and has some nice flavors going on. It is a welcome variation to their bourbon, which I also like.

375ml in a three-bottle special cask finish series box. Batch no. 18-04, bottle no. 4606. Actually a great deal at $99.99, as buying the three bottles in 750ml totals $225. Tasted all three in a row, Cognac-Madeira-Sherry. Neat in Glencairn at home. Nose has some candied orange peel, astringent oak, mild baking spices, sweet grape must. Taste is deeper and less astringent, with apple and cloves coming out over the sweet vinous notes, with come orange peel and spices lingering. Tasty. 1/30/2020.