Hayes Parker Bourbon

The nose is ridiculously sweet and floral with a honey nectar element. The color is also very light for a bourbon. It almost smells like some sort of Irish whiskey. The palate is exceedingly weak until the bitterness and harshness kick in. Really, it tastes like an awful Irish whiskey with bourbon harshness. This is extraordinarily difficult to drink. It tastes like awful floral Irish ick mixed with huge amounts of minerals that have gone slightly rancid a la scotch gross bread. The vegetal hints add to the rancid impression and are terribly out of place for a bourbon. One sip is enough to make me never want to try it again. It reminds me of Herradura Blanco and a little of Don Julio Blanco, but it shouldn't and it doesn't remind me in any sort of good way. This is without doubt the worst bourbon I have ever tasted. It's badness reminds me of Clan MacGregor, but this is weaker and less complex. Side by side, this almost makes Clan MacGregor taste decent - though I know that's an illusion. It's bad for sure when Clan MacGregor tastes appreciably better. They say it's aged a minimum of 6 months and boy do I believe that's the maximum too. Somehow, the bitter, floral, and mineral notes here shout down the ones in Winchester Extra Smooth. Truly, this is proof that the label "small batch" carries no meaning whatsoever. Rotten flowers, a little vegetable stench, overly sweet nectar, oppressive minerals, harsh spice that carries no flavor or variation. I sure hope that this is a uniquely bad drink.

Nose- Young grain moonshine notes. Body- Unpleasant syrupy sweet notes, fresh grass, and lemon zest that is like a thick Irish whiskey rather than a bourbon. Finish- The fresh cut grass and a bit of raw peanut come through on the end making the finish more pleasant than the body. Terreseesntia claims that they can make a whiskey aged mere months taste like one aged several years. I claim bullshit.

Very sweet on the nose. Can’t pick out many flavors though. Sipping, the first flavor that hits me is cinnamon. A little bit of apple in there. Essentially just fireball. Too sweet with lots of cinamon. Not my favorite by any standard. Bought this because it apparently won some awards in past years but I don’t quite see how. Theres better bourbons for the price.

I love good bourbon and South Carolina, but this is not good bourbon. It pains me to give a bad review from a bourbon from my great state of South Carolina but I must. This is not good if you plan on drinking on ice or neat. You are buying a bourbon to enjoy so buy one that you will enjoy. Sorry, but it is the truth.

Mini bottle. Just because. Lol bourbon aged 1year? It looks it. Very pale. Candy corn, ethanol, and hints of oak and apple in a nose that’s weak in all respects other than the alcohol. Despite the relatively low proof, the palate is harsh alcohol with rye, sugar and candy corn. Ethanol finish. Run away, seriously.

Rotgut whiskey. I will never trust a recommendation from any employee of Total Wine again. There are much, much better options in the same price range, such as Evan Williams White label, Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond, or Ancient Ancient Age. Hayes Parker is pure dreck.