Bomberger's Declaration (2018 Release)

Nose (out of 2): Beautiful. Cherry turnover, cinnamon sugar on toasted almonds. Strawberry jam. Molasses. Hint of banana. Floral, honey. Very warm. 1.5. Taste (out of 4): Banana bread, hitting the notes of banana, cinnamon, bread and nuttiness. Cherry. Milk chocolate. Mint. 3.0. Finish (out of 1): Super woody, dry. A little banana (giggity). Cherry cough syrup. Least pleasant part of this drink. 0.25. Cohesiveness/Complexity (out of 1): Very cohesive with the fruit-forward desert vibe all the way through. Not overly complex, so half credit there. 0.75. Value (out of 2): Goes into value at 5.5 out of 8, so a well-above average pour. This was a free sample from my friend, Joe Decadence, so the price was right. But if you’re looking to pay $150-$200, I think that’s way too much given the bitter finish. Great nose and very solid flavor, but the ending really hinders this from being great all the way through. Overall: 6.0 out of 10. You’re getting good juice, but it’s hard to justify it at the price.

Opened up the Bomberger’s Declaration last night. In case you aren’t familiar with the name, this is a special release by Michter’s to honor the legacy of their former distillery, which was known as Bomberger’s back in the 1800’s. The unique thing about this bourbon is that they age it in a special wood called Chinquapin for 3 years. On the nose, it is like walking into a candy store with lots of caramel notes and some fruit. The palate is interesting with a bit of dark chocolate and with less burn than I would expect for something at 108%. The finish is hearty but doesn’t last too long. Overall, a solid and interesting bourbon.

Smells of a forest. Dark caramel, creme brulee, black pepper, dill, pine, and shoe leather mingle together beautifully with the woodsy backdrop of this bourbon. Vanilla and cinnamon red hots pop on the palate followed by candy corn, pine, cherry, and orange. Mouthwatering with a good finish and solid mouthfeel. Perfect proof. Nicely impressed with the two Michter's Legacy bottles. I preferred this one to Shenk's.

Nose: Brown sugar, stone fruit Palate: Orange, butterscotch, vanilla, followed by baking spices Finish: Medium to short, the baking spices linger after with a good buttery mouthfeel Bomberger's Declaration is sweet enough to have as a digestif but strong enough to provide a nice complex flavor profile.

2oz sample from Troy. Boozy aroma, vanilla and toffee and nuts. Very sweet, and very warm on the palate, finishing hot but not overwhelmingly so. A slight bit of sherry and fruit.

Honey on charred toast for the nose. Palate is sharp and strong but mellows as you sip. Finish dies a bit. Overall, very good, but would not go out of my way to purchase again.