Boone County Eighteen33 12 Year (Discontinued)

I never can remember which Boone County is sourced and which Boone County is made on site. Labels are magical. It reads “DSP-IN-1”. Labels are trash. One hour of googling later, I have more questions than answers. Looks like DSP-IN-1 is Seagram’s in ye olde times? I thought this was “MGP juice”, but that DSP is not the current DSP for MGP. MGP owns the place that used to be owned by Seagram’s, aka DSP-IN-1. Maybe it’s now technically owned by MGP but distilled before MGP owned that property? Or when MGP distills on that property, can it choose to go by DSP-IN-1? Would love to know more if anyone does. I’m giving up because I’ve been researching instead of enjoying. The ghosts wouldn’t want that. Nose is must, grapes, cedar. Smells older than 12 years. Body is lemon, oak, brine. There’s orange there. Stawberry, if you give it time. Maple syrup. Flowers. Finish is cinnamon. More brine. More oak. Chocolate. Coffee. I genuinely hate myself a bit more everytime I say this: it feels special on the finish. A lil treat for the taters. I love this bourbon. “Discontinued.” Why can’t we have nice things? And I don’t care if this next conjecture is impossible. I think this somehow related to Wild Turkey. Specifically the Russel’s Reserve portfolio. Don’t know how that could be, but the connections I get to RR13 is unmistakeable. WTMK too. Labels lie to you, trust your palate.

Neat. Neck pour. Been awhile since I opened one of these. Only have a few left bunkered... but I had a craving! Been so long since I had this. The nose is so good. For a 90 proof, 12 year bourbon it is just rich, fragrant and dense. The sweet oak in this nose is just about perfect. Fantastic honey and butterscotch. Really buttery. I even get a little cinnamon roll with vanilla frosting. I love this nose. It is a bit too watered down on the tongue. Very watery, and even muted. Honey sweetness and cinnamon spice up front. It does ramp up on the taste and builds up towards that oak. It’s like the honey transitions to vanilla which goes to the butterscotch and ends on the sweet oak. It’s a bit tannic too. That oak really builds and hangs. Though the mouth feel does suffer, it packs a ton of flavor for being low proof. The more I sip it, the rye on the back is really starting to form and magnify. So... this is a great $55-$60 bourbon, which I bought mine for before it was discontinued. This is not a $150-$200 Bourbon I am seeing it go for on secondary. No no way. Nostalgia or FOMO are tricking people on this one. Very enjoyable but only around its original price.

It's been a while but I sure do remember this one. I have a son and his family now in FLA and they all love bourbon. Lucky's Market got a barrel pick of this and I picked up a bottle and took it to FLA. So Sorry I got only one Boone County is an upstart with a relationship to MGP. Not sure how they manage to get such quality picks. High rye and barrel proof although lower than most. The nose showed very little alcohol but the butterscotch was OMG. Layered under that was candied apple and a touch of peppery cinnamon. Taste was true to the nose and the medium long finish was very satisfying. Great balance but watch out for the proof as this sips really easy neat or on ice. We have continued to seek out a bottle but on a recent distillery visit learned there will be no more. The distillery has some special releases and the 5 year single barrel rye was great. I will continue to follow their products closely.

“Proof in the Pudding” pick. Great nose - little butterscotch with some earthy, hay notes. The palate is slightly thin - as others have said - but the flavor is unique and very enticing. I get a bit of that characteristic MGP rye with some cigar-esque qualities. Super lush, earthy tones. I want to say dirt even, but not in a bad way. I said unique already but that encapsulates this.

The nose on this one is bright fruity with hint of tea. The palate a drastic change from the nose it is subtle vanilla with just a hint of spice the finish is clean and short. I can understand why some may take issue with this since the nose and palate aren't even close but both are great just exceptionally different.

Neat. Nice nose. Vanilla and floral. Maybe cherry. Fresh oak. Nice creamy mouth feel. Nice sugar and dark fruit on the tongue. Lovely taste and long legs. Strong vanilla. No spice. Complexity I can’t put into words. Just a great sipper by a fire.