Calumet Farm 14 Year Single Rack Black Bourbon (March 2006)

Immediately impressed with the marketing...fancy looking bottle, which will definitely stand apart from the crowd...perhaps a Pappy look-a-like is helping with this aspect. Boozy, cherry forward nose, which translates into a taste that's as if you cracked a dried peanut-shell and found a drier / shriveled cherry is inside; and you eat both of them...(its becoming hard to dress up typical bourbon notes)... this undergoes a metamorphosis into a vanilla oak finish. This tastes higher proof than it actually is, which is a nice positive, but unfortunately this does not punch at the price point. If this bottle were to drop in $20 increments the score would improve in 1/4 star increments. It is good, and possibly better than most bourbons I've had, but we are pretty far past the inflection point on the diminished return curve. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Another bottle that wasn’t mine. I love when that happens. A friend I work with wanted to put this against Sam Houston 14. While my notes are belated I will say this - they are the same damn thing. I have no doubt. They were both put into the barrel March 2006. This was a blend of 19 barrels at a lower proof than SH blend of 3 barrels and an additional 5-6 proof. At the same price I would buy the Sam Houston every time. Or neither. I would honestly buy neither l owing what I know now. This was a thin, old and in-your-face oak, rotting banana ester and imitation vanilla drink. If you want hyper-aged Barton and IW Harper is your jam but you want more wood and funk then splurge on this. I’ve never met this person, but you could be out there somewhere.

Just strickly about value this 14 year pour doesn’t justify the price. The nose had dark walnut and some baking spice thats reflected onto the palate. Oak forward palate that has a slight bandaid note i have noticed in some red wines . Its an okay bourbon that doesnt offer the experience for a 14 year old juice and its priced unaccordingly for any value.

Rich sweet and fruity nose with a sour hint. Spicy overtone with very sweet, fruit-punchy undertone. Spice lasts into finish and finish carries. No oak tannin I would expect on this age. Not necessarily punching it’s price, but there’s no doubt a tasting journey is there.

👃Amzingly sweet smell: dark brown sugar, dark chocolate, leather 👅 mouthfill is a bit thin at first, but thickens. Bajing spices witb a bit of fruitiness. Longer finsh. This is a good dram, smell is better than the taste though—a bit of a mismatch.

Spicy and smooth. A fantastic bourbon that has notes cinnamon, caramel, oak, and vanilla. Smooth from the first to last taste and warms going down. A slight bite that disappears as it goes down. Perfect sipper. Do not dilute