First Call Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Let’s be fair here, this is a $20 bottle being propped up by Total Wine and wasn’t designed to be earth shattering. The story behind it is interesting enough. The distiller and blender have Brown Forman DNA and the former us also distilled for Michters and Angels Envy. The nose is vanilla and butterscotch, plain and simple. Maybe a little oak. Mouthfeel is thin with very mild heat. No surprises here, just more butterscotch, vanilla, faint wood, apple pie. Not bad really. I’d drink this again if offered without hesitating. If on a $20 budget I’d bring home WT 101 first or BT if I see it for $22 (what it’s worth). This could find its way into the $20 rotation though.

Nose: caramel, a bit dusty, vanilla. There is also a bitter note that I can’t quite put a note to. Palate: Cinnamonand brown sugar dominant. Long finish for 90 proof. Not overly complex, but a pleasent taste. Overall: Based on reviews, I was ready to be dissapointed. However, I was quite pleased at a price point of $20.99. This is a solid bourbon with classic flavors. It won’t blow you away, but a great every day sipper or bourbon to have out for a party.

A rich, Straight Bourbon Whiskey by Master Distiller Kevin Curtis for IJW Whiskey Company in Kentucky made from a blend of 40 different mash bills & aged in charred American oak barrels & bottled at 90 proof. It has an aromatic birth with notes of grain, fruits, wood & spices; while a full & complex life adds hints of dark fruits, light oak, vanilla & butterscotch; that led to a warming death of medium length. December 2021 / August 2022

Alcohol on the nose, but there's some wood and cereal grains hidden in there as well. Mostly sweet on the tongue, flat caramel with some cereal flavor from the aroma, but lacking body. I like the proof, needs more richness to balance it. A pretty plain straightforward bourbon, but not terrible for the price.

Vanilla oak slightly sweat and not to strong on the alchol notes. Enjoyable flavor. Great value. Tried straight and with a splash of water. Though most are better with a bit of water this one needs it to be good but the difference is huge. Makes more of a difference than with many other bourbons.

There's absolutely nothing remarkable about this. It's grain forward and dry. The bite comes on strong with no flavor behind it to back it up. Spend a little more for something like Elijah Craig. Perhaps twice the price but 10 times the flavor.