Ragged Branch Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon

Nose Good bit of spice and char, but also red fruit, like cherry or plum. Palate It's like barrel-finished French toast with cherry compote: sweet maple syrup, whipped cream, and cinnamon, along with a distinct charred note bringing heft and body to a whiskey that's only about 5 years old. Finish Long and unsurprisingly sweet, after the palate. It just fades from the spicy char to the fruity, vanilla sweetness, leaving just a hint of spice behind. Overall In appearance and taste, this whisky gives a surprising suggestion of a wine-cask finish, even though it isn't. The closest thing I can compare it to is the Knob Creek 15 year, even in spite of the big difference in age. It compares favorably to Woodford Double Oaked, but I think it avoids the tart tannins that take some of the fun out of the Woodford, though the price is the same. I generally don't like wheated bourbons, but, after doing a tasting at the distillery, this is the only bottle I bought there.

Rating at the distillery: Nose: toffee, candy corn Palate: barrel char, chocolate Finish: orange, brown sugar Much more complex than their standard wheated bourbon. Oily mouthfeel. Rating of the bottle I took home: Very bad. Weird sour aftertaste that lingers for a very long time. Maybe I just grabbed a bad bottle but it’s nothing like what I tasted at the distillery.

Drinking neat I want to like this more, but there is a medicinal oak note that I can’t get over. I won’t dump it out, but I won’t drink it neat anymore.

Gift from my brother in law. Loving it. Quite a bit of oak/char coming through, still with a nice sweet finish.

Excellent oaky taste with sweet notes on the end. Too pricey for more than a occasional indulgence.

Solid vanilla notes and sweetness. A slight spice on front but extremely smooth on back end