Ben Holladay 6 Year Rickhouse Proof Small Batch Reserve

Aroma - Bold and in your face.. It’s bright up front but there’s a dark profile for a backbone. (Pretty awesome to be honest) Getting a lot of baking spices with vanilla. Very fall-like dessert here. Very musty/oaky profile coming out as well which I personally enjoy. Taste - Damn. That is nice. I pick up lot of dessert notes here. Similar to the nose, getting lots of fall-like profile. Like a caramel apple with vanilla frosting that has baking spices lightly sprinkled over it. Even pops some rich butterscotch on the finish with bubblegum notes. Decadent and rich. Overall - The finish is and viscosity is amazing. The long finish in my opinion really makes this bourbon special. The caramel and slight butterscotch note seems to never fade and sticks to the palate. This is really a damn good offering and for the price, it’s a must buy. It drinks way above its price point and way below its proof in my opinion. 5.0 easily for the price.

NEAT NOSE - Apples, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Baking Spices, Oak PALATE - As compared to the Bottled-In-Bond 6 year, this is much more dark and rich on the palate. It’s not as sweet but it’s still packed with flavor and character. The extra proof brings out more notes of oak, cinnamon, and brown sugar. It’s more complex than the Bottled in Bond and more interesting. FINISH - Baking Spices and Oak; Long BUY? - Yes! I recommend especially if you like the bottled in bond. BUY AGAIN? - Yes, I look forward to future batches.

I had to let this one open up a little bit. Straight from the bottle, it was hot, so a little time was the right choice. The nose shows some nutty aromas, with a little cinnamon and all spice. I am trying this one neat, so the palate gave me something like almond dust, cinnamon and pepper. The finish was long with more heat. I put a little water and the heat went away, and more nutty/sawdust notes on the nose and a little sweetness and less pepper on the palate. Nice.

The nose has a sweet tart mixed with clove, nutmeg, vanilla, caramel and green apple The palate hit with the minerality right off the bat. The baking spices follow through with a bit of sour apple, cardamom and oak The finish is long and spicy with more caramel, vanilla and oak. The sweet tart minerality disappears on the finish Close to a Dickel BiB experience but better!

Nose: Apple forward fruit note and kick of cinnamon. Palate: Green apple, oak and baking spice on the back end. Initially a "soft", buttery tongue coater which warms up quickly to a long lingering apple and slightly floral finish that stays with you for quite some time. All and all, solid pour for the proof. Would buy again.

A quick-take from Whiskey in the Winter St. Louis Whiskey Festival: With a nose of apple pie and a rich and juicy body, this new release was previously only available at the distillery gift shop. This barrel-proof expression goes above and beyond their flagship offering.