Kirkland 7 Year Small Batch Tennessee Bourbon

Kirkland 7yr TN Straight Bourbon Whiskey *NOSE: My first pour was in a standard Rocks Glass and the Cascade Hollow notes jump right out of the glass. For this review I'm using a Glencairn and it revealed a lot more going on here. Corn Dust, Maple, Burnt Sugars, Citrus Spice, and Cinnamon. *NEAT: Great Coating Mouthfeel reveals Cinnamon, Molasses, Maple, Oaky Barnyard Funk, all delivered with a Clingy Tingling Heat. It tastes it's 102 Proof, and then some. Nice Growing TNHug blooming in the chest with Oak Funk and Cinnamon coating the palate. *SPLASH: A little water gives the Palate that typical Fruit Cocktail note I get from older Dickel Whiskies. The Oak loses some of the Funk and gains a little Tannic Bitterness. ICE brings out the Vitamin Note that Dickel is famous (infamous) for. *VERDICT: Let there be no doubt that this is sourced from Dickel. It practically jumps from the glass and screams "CASCADE HOLLOW". BUT, something is different here. Neat this one was Oakier/Funkier and had more Cinnamon than typical GD. Is it the higher proof? Has it not received the LCP? Is it barrel placement/selection? This almost tastes like a mixture of Dickel (Fruit and Maple), 1792 (Cinnamon Heat), and Wild Turkey (Barnyard Funk). I know everyone is searching out the Kirkland Barton sourced releases, but don't forget about this one. A tasty 7 Year Old 102 proof all-purpose workhorse at $30 for a Full Liter. A steal in my book.

Tennessee Distilling product. Neck pour, neat. I might have had too high of expectations with my Costco experiences finding hidden gem products and the Whisky Advocate 91 point rating advertised on the neck band. Blast of nail polish on the nose and a lot of wood and leather. Behind that was a some dark fruit. To the extent there was any sweetness, it was almost like ketchup. Ethanol taste was very forward with spice and a touch of vanilla. Rye spice and oak with a short dry finish. Letting it sit created better balance allowing cherry and caramel to come through on the front with less burn. A little water really opened it up. I expect this will be more enjoyable on the rocks and as I get deeper into the bottle, plus it should stand up well as a mixer.

Dark golden, some brick tint. Definite notes of rye, a bit of barn must. Some herbal notes: eucalyptus or rosemary. Corn is the biggest presence. A bit too much of an ethanol kick. Kind of rough around the edges... Wonderful sweetness coats the mouth. chocolate, barrel, corn and toasted coconut and almond milk. Too much ethanol on the nose, but it's still enjoyable Outstanding value

Neat in Glencairn at home. Thanks for the bottle, Randy B. (this is being written before tasting). Nose is spice-forward, with some vanilla and woody notes coming through. Perhaps a bit dusty. Taste is grassy and astringent, thin and full of ethanol, with dust and tree bark as well. No, no, and again no. Not undrinkable, but just barely so. 2/13/2020.

Best friend got this for me as a birthday present. I had no idea this existed. A 1-liter, 7-year age stated, 103 proof bourbon for what he said was less than $30 - I'm not sure you can beat that valve. A great mixer, nice enough neat - very good - a cut above. I just wish this was available in Ohio! Batch T-1796

Nose: vanilla, cedar, little maple Palate: buttered popcorn! Like an explosion of butter and popcorn..... followed by rye spice. Finish is medium and honestly the weakest of this pour..... really funky. Overall decent.... gonna let it sit and revisit. Not sure how I feel about it.