Bondstone Heritage Reserve Quad Oak Bourbon

Color: Deep Amber Nose: Sugary-sweet nose with oak, molasses, and a touch of butterscotch — yes! Palate: (Drank with an ice cube) First sip follows closely on the nose. It's sweet and oaky, and a little spicy. Mild chest hug. Slightly syrupy on the tongue. Sometimes, the more I sip the spicier things get. But this is maintaining a more "sweet" profile — which I love. I'm struggling to identify specifics on this first pour... though I'm getting many familiar bourbon flavors, along with some elusive ones. Suffice to say, I am liking this very much. As the ice dillutes the last sip opened up in a big way, and I was hit with a very "clean" flavor. I know that sounds weirdly vague. But it was a pleasant surprise. Maybe pour #2 will reveal more... There's that "clean" taste right out of the gate on pour #2. Maybe I'm getting the typical "caramel" and "vanilla", but I'm trying to avoid those typical terms that we all read about on 85% of bottles that get reviewed? OK, I need to wrap this up or I might not stop.... Finish: I'm calling this medium finish with baking spices and that "clean" taste. Jeezus! What IS that? Final Thoughts: Excellent bourbon. This was a recommendation from the Manager(?) at Total Wine in Glendale, CA. He was spot on. I'll update this review with his name in the near future. Sorry I couldn't be more specific with the profile. But if you like your bourbon sweet, oaky, a bit smokey with very little burn, you'll like this. 4.25 stars.

Batch #02 A balanced, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey by IJW Whiskey in Kentucky is double oak aged for a minimum of 4 years in new charred American white oak barrels, new oak barrels with toasted oak staves; before being bottled at 50% ABV. It has an aromatic birth with notes of grain, wood, fruit, nuts & spice; while a balanced life adds notes of caramel apples & butterscotch; that led to a long & warm death with notes of oak spice.

Batch #01 A rich, High Rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey by IJW Whiskey in Kentucky is aged for a minimum of 2 years in new charred American white oak barrels with different char & toast levels before being bottled at 50% ABV. It has an aromatic birth with notes of grain, wood & spices; while a rich life adds notes of caramel & butterscotch; that led to a long & sweet death.

Decent Flavor and Finish