Old Soul 15 Year Cask Strength Straight Bourbon

The nose has an interesting mix of dusty old barn oak with sweet peppercorns and some dark maple syrup aroma rising up through it. Some herbal aspects, anise maybe, I can't put my finger on, and dark red fruit or currant, it's delicious and something about it is very familiar. The front is loaded with the dark sugars, maple, caramel vanilla, they are all there, mid way through we get that peppercorn heat, just bordering on a redhot cinnamon but not quite crossing over. The finish is roasted almond, with black pepper, feint vanilla caramel sugars can be detected but yet it's a dry finish. This is extremely well executed bourbon. This has a mature finish quality that doesn't waver, it just keeps on keepin on for days. I know I've had this before. There is a lot of speculation as to what this is, after all a 15 year Kentucky barrel is not something being bandied about these days. I don't get enough peanut shell or sour mash for this to be Beam, and not enough of the really rich fruit sugars to be Barton. Nothing from Sazarac, nor Four Roses, there aren't a lot of choices left. If I had to bet, I'd say this is Heaven Hill and specifically out of the Old Fitz warehouse. So is it great bourbon? Absolutely, as for the value.. and that said, an Old Fitz and less than 10 dollars a year, you do the math. Cheers!

So a unique mash bill on a bourbon made god knows where. 130 bucks for 15 year CS bouron...at least that seems reasonable. Nose - Orchard fruits, sweet sugars, of course your caramel and vanilla. A lighter profile but very gentle and inviting. Taste - I don't think it's barton lol....as that seems to be ALL the 12-15 year old juice coming out lately. But it could be? There's this nutty finish and a sweet, really sweet clean candy up front. There's oak on the back end but we're far from too much oak. Spicy notes on the finish, super sweet up front. Dang this is a tasty bourbon. Just well done mix of sweet, spice, and a touch of dusty notes. The funny thing is this very well could have been aged another 5 years I gave a 3.25 to this year's 2020 four roses. I'm going to give this one the same score. It's not better, in many ways it is less complex, but it's also really well done in a lot of ways. More importantly, it is less flawed. If you see this one, 2600 bottles...buy it.

Nose - peanut brittle with caramel drizzle and cinnamon, leather oil Palette - oily texture, dry spice and hot caramel, antique wood and leather, some dry cocoa powder Finish - hot and long, mostly spicy with some sweetness

Scotch like taste when over ice