Black Maple Hill Limited Edition Purple Label

This is really an odd one. The nose is dominated by an intense minerality, with piney notes, hints of damp soil, decomposing plant matter, wet rocks (for lack of a better description), and just a hint of something kind of like mint tea with honey. Things look a little like they’re going to push in the direction of gin, but they don’t go so far as to be off putting. The taste really hones in on those notes of tea and honey, bringing in a light note of lemon, and a pervasive grassiness. The mid palate starts to bring out more in the way of light barrel char and smoke, but only ever hints at the classic vanilla-caramel wood sugars. The finish brings out strange reminiscences of a strong, cool breeze over a damp forest floor. It sounds strange, but you’ll know what I mean if you taste this. A truly odd and unique bourbon, it shies away from all of the classic sweet, dessert-like notes of a classic bourbon, instead landing solidly in the space of light, mineral-forward herbaceous honey. This is a whiskey I would reach for on a crisp, damp autumn day. Not my favorite, but a unique journey nonetheless.

A sample from dthom as part of the "Whiskey transfer program". Nose: Right up front super heavy peanut. Vanilla, honey, dried cherry, cedar, apple, background grassy notes. Very fruity and nutty. A complex pleasing nose. Flavor: Super weird and off putting. Very herbal and grassy and very hot ethanol burn up front. Nondescript sweet notes. Finish: Finishes medium short with cucumber and spice notes transitioning into more toasted peanut. The nose on this was super complex and pleasing and then the flavor and finish were just super weird. It almost has notes on the tongue of gin. It's interesting but that's all that can be said here. If you're looking for a solid bourbon that hits the usual notes this isn't it. Kind of gross to be honest.

52 I put a number just to put one. Probably the worst bourbon I’ve had. I’ll admit the hype got me to try this and I have now learned. Nose: sweet caramel char, mashed barn hay Flavor: matches nose, sweet caramel/ vanilla, “off putting” weird lingering taste as mentioned. It tastes like fermented hay from a barn, grassy, earthy, not for the better. Overall: I would not drink this if someone gave it to me. At $80 a bottle I should have wiped my ass with the money and flushed it. I would suggest not paying money to try this. If you want a sample, I will send you one. I would like to know if the original Kentucky version of this bourbon tasted similar. Comment if you can. Thanks guys. Happy bourboning!

This is an interesting bourbon. I think the story and history still makes this bottle priced what it is. Smell is cherry overtaken by a strong charred oak. That oak taste really hits hard at first touch of the palate with a corn taste as well. As you finish it loses a little of that oak flavor and burn. Almost conceding to an ethanol taste. Not overly bad, but definitely a unique bourbon. 2.5 whiskey barrel salute.. will taste again and see if it improves with being opened.

Moving on to sample 1 from Rick. legs are good with a nice golden color. Nose is more like a rye than a bourbon. I sense a strong dill note. There is an alfalfa hay note. I've only gotten that note on one other whiskey; Ranger Creek 0.38 bourbon. Palate brings that wonderful dill week flavor through. I'd definitely say this is a 95% rye mashbill. Wonderful rye flavor. Dill hangs around for a medium finish. Proof is in the 100 proof area. Nice dram

This batch (they don't even identify which one it is on the bottle) is a huge disappointment compared to a taste I had about three years ago at a bar, and no, that one wasn't the original Kentucky Black Maple Hill. The one I had three years ago was complex, floral, and balanced, like Blanton's only better. This batch is astringent and doesn't show much more than peanuts and oak.