Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength

This is a 121.8 proof bottle - according to the label, it's Batch 8. It cost me $38.99 for a fifth at the Uptown location of Total Wine here in Albuquerque. There's no age statement, and it has a mash bill of 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% sprouted barley. In the class it's a definite copper color. NOSE: This is a far more complex nose than you'd expect from the general reputation of Bulleit bourbon, and it's certainly more complex than the standard 90 proof expression. Through several sips I got Roasted corn, caramel, cinnamon toast, brown sugar, vanilla buttercream icing, green summer leaves, a fresh plowed field, maple syrup, a little bit of sweet smoke, and vanilla ice cream. MOUTHFEEL: Creamy. TASTE: I got cinnamon, honey, red pepper, brown sugar, honey butter, and a very faint oak note. It would concern me that I get so much less on the palate than I do on the nose, but I've learned that my mouth is considerably less sensitive than my nose - this is a typical occurrence. FINISH: Honey, cinnamon, spicy oak, and a lingering milk chocolate. Overall the finish is medium in length. SUMMARY: This is an excellent bourbon, with a good proof. It has a delightfully complex nose and a highly satisfying palate. And the price is right. I'll definitely buy this stuff again. RATING: On my hick rating scale it comes out at the 7th level (counting from the bottom), which is Right Fine. This is equivalent to 4.375 stars out of five, 87.5/100, or 8.75/10.

N: Marshmallow, oak, vanilla, creamy, and there spice of cinnamon and black pepper. There may be some butterscotch or custard. I’m not sure. P: Warm! Amazing! The cinnamon and Pepper spices Hit first. Tobacco and oak show up second while caramel, vanilla and marshmallows close it out. The additional Proof helps Here. F: The Kentucky hug is present! It’s welcomed. The consistency is nice compared to weaker Proofs tonight, however, it’s not unique. That doesn’t make it bad. Just warm and Welcomed. Maybe more oak on the end than normal.

The nose has a sweet and caramel smell to it. Oak is the forward flavor, with a caramel sweetness behind it. There is a subtle complexity in the transition. For the proof, the finish is much shorter than I would expect. Overall, this is a very pleasant pour. The oak is pretty forward but the sweetness that I love comes back through that is very enjoyable.

Batch 07 - 120 proof. Really enjoyed this one. Cherry everywhere. Spicy, but drinks well under the proof. Surprisingly balanced and drinkable, medium finish. Almost too easy to drink, not lacking anything but just drinkable. A simple bourbon, good in an old fashion. Would buy another bottle

I saw another review that said this was just the regular Bulleit at a higher proof, and i have to agree. Theres nothing overly special about it. A little more oak, sweetness, and some spiciness. It's not bad, but at it's price point there are just too many other things I'd rather drink.

Nose: brown sugar, spice Palate: orange, spice, caramel, ethanol Finish: relatively short, some spice and ethanol burn Hot but decent…with some water or ice it’s ok but not spectacular for a full strength bourbon. Gives me a headache quickly.