HIRSCH The Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Wow, this bottle is a monster and probably the highest proof I have had in a whiskey, clocking in at 136.2%. It took me a while to sit with it to really appreciate what it was. Right off the bar the nose tells me that this is produced by Willett. Those nose has a lot of ethanol and it has that Willet all spice characteristic. HOT! Orange zest, cherries and oak are on the palate. Very spicy that lingers on a very long finish. Oak is very prominent on the finish too. Even for someone that enjoys high proof bourbons, this whiskey was challenging for the first few sips.

127.9 proof, 7 years 7 months Nose: big cinnamon, grassy, would have thought rye, heavy ethanol Taste: lots of brown sugar , chocolate, black pepper and spice, tobacco, the grape and spice almost give it a champagne like quality. Oily mouthfeel Finish: earthy note that’s a little off putting, long with black pepper spice on the tongue It’s bold spicy and unrefined. Uniquely funky for a bourbon, earthy and musty. Definitely in line with other Willett distillate. Really solid pour.

*** 6 YEAR TONYS LIQUORS *** Nose - Kind of a funky smell but pleasantly funky. Definitely a little different from a typical bourbon, some clean scent, little bit of apple crisp and berry. Palate - Kind of stale off the bat, like a salty cracker. Does have a slight vanilla that isnt over bearing but the staleness takes it away sort of. Finish - It ends with some nutty cinnamon notes thats capped by a lightly bitter vanilla oak.

Nose:Caramel, orange zest, leather, vanilla. Very bright on the nose. Palate: burnt sugars, barrel spices, vanilla toffee tobacco. Finish: long Kentucky hug. Spicy on the back end. Hangs around forever. Overall: this is fantastic. When I first cracked it I was not impressed. I can back some weeks later after some air got into it and wow. This is a hitter.

Nose: Orange zest, cinnamon, leather and a little vanilla. Palate: More cinnamon with dark fruits, tobacco and leather Finish: Long leathery, oaky spice. Hangs a while but it never over bearing. My bottle is aged 7 years, 9 months and 138.1 proof. Let it sit for a while and the ethanol comes off the nose. Best $100 bourbon I've ever bought.

Single barrel Specs pick 136.6 Nose: orange marmalade, spicy oak, dusty leather, banana chips Palate: plum, orange, cherry, leather, creamy creme brûlée, blackberry cobbler Finish. Long lasting pound cake, dark fruit, and an extremely pleasant ethanol tingle. Mexican vanilla extract is the last to linger 84/100