Calumet Farm 8 Year Bourbon (Discontinued)

The nose is faint but from what I can gather there is caramel, cherry and oak. It is an very smooth whiskey going down it does have that going for it. but the my goodness was the palate not what I was expecting. There was balaton cherry, medicinal cherry and maraschino cherry notes, not nearly as much vanilla as I was hoping for. And to be honest when the label talks about the batch being a blend of less than 50 barrels. I was hoping for a little more depth. Kind of one dimensional. Cherry bomb if you will. The body is on the thinner side. Finished dry with no lingering or worthwhile after palate. If you want to spend over $40 for a mixer that’s your own business. But for the price you can find far superior bourbon. If you are to curious about this bottle I recommend trying a sample at a bar, liquor store or tasting event before spending anything over $18 for this bottle. You won’t find it for that price but for what you get out of it, it’s what it’s worth.

When I read here that this Calumet 8 Year was being discontinued, I had to run out and get some. I've wanted to try it for a while, and its impending unavailability sealed the deal. This is very good. There's nothing particularly special about it, but it's got all the qualities I look for in bourbon: Sweet, a little spicy, leathery, very little burn. Finish is short, but pleasant. I've read other reviewers state that it tastes a bit "thin" for an 8 Year. I kinda-sorta get what they're saying — but not completely. It's got a nice richness to it and it coats the tongue just fine. There are four bottles remaining where I located this one. I may need to go back and procure another before it's gone for good.

I enjoyed the nose. Aromas of vanilla, honeysuckle, orange, candy and a bit of cinnamon. I thought the flavor was a letdown. It’s hot for a 90 proof pour, lots of alcohol flavor, and pronounced oak and corn. At $50 there are a lot better choices. It smooths out if you drop a cube in it and let it sit a bit, but still nothing to write home about.

A very pleasant bourbon. One that is great for dipping because you can get the full complexity of flavors without the bite that most aged bourbon have. Sweet to the tongue, soft on the nose. Hints of honey and vanilla.

Price point is around $45. Not worth it in my opinion. Weak nose. Thin on the palate and finish. For the same price Four Roses Single Barrel, Rare Breed among others all blow this one away.

Calumet Farm Single Barrel 8-year: Proof: 90 Color: Honey Nose: Red fruit, followed by apples. subtle hint of leather Taste: Cinnamon, cherries and baking spices Finish: Spicy and short