John E. Fitzgerald Very Special Reserve

You can really tell that the casks they used for this were part of the old Stitzel-Weller stock. It's actually VERY reminiscent of Pappy 20 but without the exceptionally long finish and more of the citrus replaced by a slightly metallic, copper-ish note. The vanilla background that you get in ORVW and Pappy is also toned down slightly to reveal more of a dank woodiness. The nose to me wasn't anything to write home about, but it does a fairly good job of letting you know what you're in for: Smooth, without much of a burn at all, some cherry and other miscellaneous fruit in the background, and the mix of vanilla/wood and copper I mentioned before. It's definitely worth experiencing and I might even buy one for myself if it were $900 for a full 750mL bottle, but for a 375mL decanter it's a bit pricey for what tastes essentially like a tweaked Pappy van Winkle.

The nose is powerful with a burst of charred oak as the dominant, with supporting notes of ripe fruit, vanilla, molasses and a distinct funk common to Stitzel-Weller distillate. It is mesmerizing. It takes on a bit of spice but is begging to be drank. The palate is dry and chewy, filling the mouth with charred oak and that funk, with notes of leather, black pepper and a distinct richness that is hard to pinpoint. It is as simple as that. Very remarkable in its simplicity and the depth of the oak, and the spice. Fruity and floral notes live subtly in the corners of the mouth, but the hallmark of this is the oak and the funk. The finish is long, oaky and funky. Absolutely amazing. When you're at a loss for words, you're on to something good.

This is a genuine rarity. Only 3000 bottles were made, a 20yo bourbon, John E. Fitzgerald was an excise man who had the key of the distillery, and he drank from the finest casks: yes, this an enhanced "Larceny bourbon". 45% abv, chesnut color. On the nose is INCREDIBLE AND INTERESTING. Gum. Candy. Cotton candy. Solvent. Milka chocolate. SPECTACULAR. On the palate is unbeatable. A sherried, spice explosion. Wonderful. But.... The aftertaste is inexistent. No aftertaste at all :( Overall i think this is a great great dram, but not having aftertaste... well, a lot of points were deducted. I love the story and i love the 375ml bottle, but you got to be true to your ratings so: 80 over 100. And it surely feels like more.

Holy smokes is this good. Smooth. Sweet. Lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

Sweet and smooth. Doc Crow's Louisville KY.