J.T.S. Brown Bourbon

Served neat in a Glencairn. Nose: nail polish and classic bourbon vanilla. Faint cherry and...mint? Menthol maybe. Palate: Not bad but not a bargain bin find of your favorite kentucky bourbon. It isn't complex but I'm finding it hard to describe. There's wood and barrel spice and a lot of really nice notes but they're there and then gone after the swallow. I hope that's just because its 80 proof. Finish: Really not bad. Its decent and then gone. I agree that the nose is way worse than the taste. Someone said there's fish like smell and I can agree that once I opened the bottle there was something weird there. But at 1 liter for under $10 I'm pleasantly surprised. Bottom line: If you can find the bottled in bond, grab it.

I mix this (2/3) with Fighting Cock (1/3) to produce a decent 86+ proof daily drinker. With a 1.75L of JTS and .75L of FC at $18 each on sale in Virginia, I can have a decent dram at less than $15/L. On its own, JTS 80 proof is non offensive and a fine mixer - It is also OK over ice, but noticeably basic... just corn sweetness and caramel. Mixing with the higher proof Fighting Cock raises proof, taste, spiciness, and complexity - the mix only lacks a bit of smoothness and wood from older ($$$) bourbons.

As a bottom shelfer, I really enjoy the band-for-buck of this boubon. The nose is weak and somewhat dominated by ethanol, but the palette is Cracker Jacks (caramel corn and peanuts) and makes a great daily drinker if you like Cracker Jacks. Still a little weak for mixing, but I've learned to adjust on the bitters and vermouth for my Manhattens (more Bourbon and bitters, slightly less vermouth since the Bourbon is so sweet).

Pleasant for the money. Straight smells worse, but actually seems to have less of a hot mid palate. Adding a little water remove the initial bite, but harshens up mid, and then leaves a pleasant after taste. Smells a bit harsh without water, but with water, it develops kind of a floral note. For $12, it's not a bad whiskey.

tastes about right for the price, acceptable as a mixer for some drinks. would like to try the BIB version as I have heard good things about this offering.

Was blessed to try a 94 dusty of this and was really pleased! The fish oil taste on that older bottle was a little much but I enjoyed it none the less