Blue Note Juke Joint Straight Bourbon (93 Proof)

I was traveling recently... and when I am out of state, I like to see what the shops outside of California have on their shelves. I'd always been intrigued by Blue Note Juke Joint, but it's nowhere to be found here. So when I saw it on the shelf in a Connecticut Spirit Shop, I grabbed that thing! Color: Medium golden amber Nose: Familiar Bourbon nose of oak, slight nasal passage alcohol burn (but nothing crazy). Hard to pin-point but, as I said, it's a familiar nose, not unlike many bottles I've had in the past. Palate: (Drank with an ice cube) Initially spicy-sweet. Again, this is a very familiar profile to me. The palate follows the nose to a "T". Going down, there's a bit more of a hug than I'd expect from a 93 proofer. But it fades quickly with subsequent sips. As the ice melts a bit, some bitter (tart?) cherry comes through. There's a nondescript sweetness gmto this juice. I got a huge corn hit as I reached the bottom of the second pour — like a "Fritos corn chips" corn. Interesting... Finish: I guess you'd consider it short. The spiciness is probably the most predominant characteristic. Oaky, spicy, corn. Slightly drying. My review may not sound all that glowing. But it's not for lack of enjoyment. It's a decent pour for the price point. One of those, "I'd definitely drink it again, but probably would not buy again" bottles. It's simply too basic to vie for a spot on my shelf when there are so many other "good" bottles out there that are easier for me to find, and perhaps even cheaper. "Good" at best; "Unremarkable" at worst. Added 5/17/24: Having some of this tonight, following a pour of E.H. Taylor Single Barrel... the differences are like night and day. This Blue Note can't really hold a candle to the E.H. Taylor. Two completely different animals. I'm noticing a specific funky "medicinal" flavor that I also got from the Heavens Door Ascension bourbon... and I panned that one here at Distiller! You don't really learn what it is you like and what it is you can live without until you try them side by side... and I'm getting to the point where I'm tired of trying different bottles only to realize that there's really no need for me to stray from the ones that I know are excellent.

After trying the Crossroads, I was able to give this a try as well. With not liking the Crossroads, I had low expectations of going to their 100 proof to 93 proof. The nose was nothing to write home about. Some vanilla and a little ethanol taste. The taste wasn’t too bad. The palate was simple. You had some sweetness, toffee, caramel and a little ethanol. Nothing groundbreaking but also tasty enough for a second sip. The finish was quick. More caramel and ethanol for me. Nothing really stood out which made me disappointed as I always love a good finish in a bourbon. Overall, this was okay. For $25, it’s an easy bourbon to drink and might make a decent old fashion. I wouldn’t drink this neat but might make a cocktail with it.

Bought this on sale for $44.99. Rich amber color and label states "uncut" and "unfiltered". Cork popped, first nose out of the bottle is of apple cider vinegar or a dickel sour mash. Over ice, the nose is "clean" and reminds me or that green Palmolive dish soap. First taste is suprisingly rich and smooth, almost honey sweet, but high expectations explode into a peppery young bite, its sting boasting of its 121 proof. The first half of each sip is a 7 out of 10, the finish is a 6 out of 10. The more my mouth gets used to the burn, the sweeter this becomes. Of all the tastes that use the word "honey" this one is the most accurate. Overall, very, very good. This one will get picked up first a lot more.

Nose is light with mild ethanol aroma and some nuttiness (pecan maybe?). Palate gives way to classic bourbon flavors- caramel and oak. It’s richness is impressive given the price point. Moderate burn on the finish. Overall, I think this entry level blue note expression provides great value in this price range. It’s young and has a bit of burn, but the flavor is solid. Is great on the rocks and could stand up in a cocktail as well. The older 9-10 year blue notes are much better, but they’re around double the price.

Nose: bright floral notes greet on the first sniff, which then softens to vanilla and berries - decent, but unspectacular Palate: more floral and herbal notes are present on the palate, with slight hint of spice - feels very much like a rye Finish: the spice and herbal notes accompany you through the end, which is over pretty quickly - short and disappointing Overall: was not really impressed by this, seems like it was somewhat unsure of what it wants to be

This Tennessee whiskey is worth a try. The nose knows that this has a rather subdued smell when comes to tasting notes. However, when you drop it on the tongue and roll it from front to back you get dark cherries, chocolate and spice. The 93 proof produces a short dry finish with a little orange peel and white pepper. Enjoy