Ranger Creek .36 Texas Straight Bourbon Cask Strength

This review is for Batch 3, which I had a pour of over ~1.5 hours at a friend's house. Brown sugar was the most prominent note on the nose. There was also vanilla and a melon note I couldn't quite place. I later identified it as the smell of young rye. I also got molasses, blackened marshmallow, cinnamon and dark chocolate. It kept evolving in the glass. The proof really aids this whiskey. It explodes on the palate, with the brown sugar being at the forefront. There was also a nice caramel flavor, dark chocolate, and a long, spicy cinnamon finish. It drinks lower than its proof. I had so much fun spending some time with this one. It's far more interesting than I was expecting. This is the only Texas whiskey I've ever enjoyed. And while the price isn't great, I'll probably still buy a bottle for myself.

First impression....36 has a lot of cinnamon like garrison brothers. Pretty close to cowboy. I would say the .36 is cowboy lite with a little younger finish. Not quite as complex. Cowboy has better nose and maybe a little better mouth feel, a bit nuttier...also more cinnamon sugar cookie. .36 more grassy but not bad grassy. The longer I let .36 open up the better it was. If I’m looking at .36 for $94 and cowboy for $220, I’m taking .36 every time.

Dark amber color Smells of vanilla and brown sugar Taste of a bit of caramel and butter scotch and moves into cinnamon. Good body overall with a nice burn at the front. After taste sits in the mouth a bit with a slight sweetness and warm spice

Big spice and mellow sweetness. I’ve tasted some variation as my father has gifted me bottles over the years. I’d recommend. Website says “new wood” flavors, and I’d agree.

Tasty, yet doesn’t really grab my attention. Has a sweet taste with a bite, but not in a great way.

Oaky cinnamon and spice followed by salted oaky vanilla. Definitely a challenging pour