James E. Pepper Decanter Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Color: Nice medium copper-amber Nose: Wow! I don't think I have ever gotten such a fruit-forward nose. Like peach(?), apricot(?), or melon(?). Seriously, in the many years I've been at this, and the many bottles I've gone through, this is a unique nose among noses. I must point out that it's a fairly "light" nose. No nostril burn or heavy alcohol that tends to prevail on 100+ proof noses. I'm getting "butterscotch" (perhaps my personal Holy Grail of bourbon profiles), and some mild oak. This is probably the most I've ever written for a "Nose". Lol. Palate: (First pour drank neat) Slightly syrupy mouth feel and a surprisingly pronounced chest hug on the first sip. I honestly was not expecting that, going on the nose. Big dose of spicy oak on the second sip. Going in for pour #2 with an ice cube. Let's see if anything new comes though... Getting a bit more spicy tingle on this second go-round's first sip with ice. Lots of the same flavors from the first pour, with the addition of licorice — which really makes itself known towards the back of the tongue. Yeah... Oak, licorice, and spice are the stars of the show here. Finish: I'm giving this a medium-long finish with a very strong licorice profile, holiday baking spices, and some graham cracker. Final Thoughts: This is a very interesting pour. It lacks the "sweetness" and "smokiness" I tend to gravitate towards... but it's got a lot going for it that has won me over. Suffice to say, I like it — a lot. It's unique, IMO. Solid 4.25 stars. Definitely going to snatch-up another bottle first chance I get.

Batch No. 0008 52.6% abv; 105.2 proof Open 4 months Nose - Raisins, apricot, fruity candy, vanilla bean, caramel, fake Maraschino cherries, white pepper, medium barrel char, and light ethanol. Palate - Creamy cinnamon glaze, lemon custard, essential oils, golden raisins, Honey Nut Cheerios, and spicy oak. Velvety, viscous, and oily. The mouthfeel is fantastic for the proof. Finish is medium-long with slightly dry oak and char, fresh cracked peppercorns, caramel, cinnamon, medicinal cherries, lemon peel, and medium ethanol. I passed by this bottle for a couple of months. It certainly stands out, one of the most beautiful bottles on the shelves. I passed for multiple reasons. I did not know much about it, there were very few reviews online, typically the nicer the bottle the worse the product and haven't been impressed with the 1776 product line. Then I saw this made Fred Minnick's top 100 of 2023. Then it was highly rated by a few YouTube channels I follow. So I'm glad I was passively peer pressured into buying this because it is great. I can't believe James E. Pepper is getting these flavors out their own juice in purportedly 5-6 years. They must be doing a low abv barrel entry around 105-110 proof, which would explain the incredible mouthfeel. Do not sleep on this bottle. I'm almost out of it, and went ahead and picked up Batch 0022 last weekend. These are so much better than most products around $60.

Batch No. 0022 53.9% abv; 107.8 proof Open 6 months Nose - Freshly baked cinnamon buns, nutmeg, browned butter, pine sap, lemon oil, roasted peaches, toasted rye, and medium ethanol. Palate - Citrus peel, mint, pine needles, pumpernickel, and gingerbread. Finish is long with mouthcoating citrus and pine oils, dry oak, dry cinnamon, rye bread, and medium ethanol. This is the second batch I've tried, and these remain a great value. Every time I visit one of the northern Kentucky stores they are sitting on the shelves for $60 or less. They don't have the typical bourbon profile of what people chase (ssssssswwwweeeeeettttttt and simple), but I think I've nailed down a good comparison. More savory and more rye spice than Rare Breed or Russell's Reserve. I've had a couple off-profile Russell's Reserve picks in the last year, and this reminds me of those picks. I would also compare this to the more floral and savory Four Roses barrel proof picks that people overlook.

Nose offers cedar, cotton candy, berry, vanilla, root beer, walnut, and butter. Unique for sure, but also a little wild. Ethanol is on the milder side, especially after five minutes in the glass. Palate is full of black cherry, cola, caramel, stewed pear, fig, tobacco, and a hint of peanut. Flavors are decently robust. Pleasantly long finish brings salted caramel, toasted oak, nutmeg, finely ground pepper, and leather. Cinnamon note lingers after everything else fades. Mouthfeel is full bodied and a little creamy, which elevates the experience. Nicely unique without any major flaws, I found this enjoyable. At $60, it is priced appropriately for the market and a viable rebuy option for the sake of variety when you’re tired of the same old same old.

The nose is a burst of creamy oak and vanilla, sprinkled with florak rye spice. Touches of citrus follow with a bit of brown sugar sweetness. Very classic bourbon nose on this. The palate is rich and coats the the mouth with oak and spice, giving it a nice chew. Mild vanilla and brown sugar follow in just the right amount to compliment the initial sharpness. This is incredibly well balanced and delicious. The finish is long, chewy and spicy. The mouth stays tingling as flavor can still be found throughout the mouth. A simple flavor profile but done exceptionally well.

This is a delicious Bourbon with a rich history. This brand dates back to 1780 and now it was rebuilt in the same historic site using their original methods. Great Bourbon on a Barrel proof selection. There’s great sweetness combined with fruits. On the nose: very distinctive notes of molasses and brown sugar. On the palate - it’s like having a cream and cherry cola. Brown sugar, molasses and cherry. It’s not too sweet and it balances out well with cherry. I woukd recommend over many known brands!