Spirits Of French Lick Lee W. Sinclair 4 Grain Bourbon

Note: picture is of 2016 edition, at 56.1%. Mine is not dated, and is bottled in bond (50%). I’m in construction. There’s a slow season and a ridiculous season. During the slow season, I often find myself with more time than sense, doing absurd things like trying a new whiskey every day. During the busy season, I’m lucky if I log in once a month. So when I feel an uncontrollable urge to review a whiskey in June, it’s going to be amazing or terrible. There is no middle ground today. Backstory: The B-team sales force at my local liquor store told me this whiskey could be the next big thing, since it was recommended by “Whiskey Jesus or whatever.” Now, I have personally known “Shoe Jesus,” “Carnie Jesus,” and “Toubab Krewe Jesus.” The first one cured my shin splints, and the last one hit on my date. I still have no idea who Whiskey Jesus is, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t buy two bottles of this bourbon on the spot. The nose is enough to know this whiskey is going to suck. There are some whiskeys that smell and taste like they’ve been aged in a lead barrel, run through a Diesel engine, and then filtered through a bunch of pebbles from my driveway. It’s what the word “contamination” tastes like when you lick it in the dictionary. Filtering that out from the nose, there’s raspberries, lemon, sugar, honey. Gingersnaps. The rest of those scents are interesting, but again, this whiskey is going to suck. There is no way to filter that note out of the body. The body is everything I licked as a child when my parents weren’t paying attention. It’s industrial. It’s exactly what I expected. It’s hard to get past, but possibly sugar, caramel, tea leaves. It honestly does taste like someone cleaned off a dirty penny with my whiskey. Finish is caramel and lemon. Very mild. Very low buzz. I did not want to be contra-Whiskey Jesus. That seems like being on the wrong part of whiskey history. But this is bad. And it bums me out because there are parts of this that suggest some talent behind the process. Add this to my ever-growing list: Journeyman Woodinville Lee W. Sinclair There really is something sinister happening with those distilleries. I don’t think those guys lack talent, but I think they’re working with tainted raw materials. I don’t know if it’s barrels, water sources, machinery, or what, but it’s painful to compare these $40-$50 offerings with the bottom shelters of people who know what they’re doing, like Heaven Hill or Wild Turkey. I’d rather drink those neat over this, and you can’t even mix with this stuff without ruining your cocktail. If anyone knows what I’m talking about and can explain to me what that funk is, I’d love to hear it.

Spirits of French Lick: Lee W Sinclair 4 Grain Bourbon BIB 100 proof 4 yrs aged Nose: lightly sweet and inviting. It’s very mash forward for a bourbon. The notes of the grains and the yeast stand out above the more classic barrel notes you typically associate with bourbon. Malted wheat, toasted oats, soft corn, tupelo honey, maple syrup, light brown sugar, buttered crusty bread, cardamon, ginger, a hint of nutmeg. There’s a light note of peach and baked apples with cinnamon. Strawberries in a bed of greens. Cola and sassafras. Mint. This one begs for more time in the glass because with every passing minute new pleasures unfurl themselves from the glass. There’s a density to the core like a rich sweet molasses cake just inviting you to dig deeper. The notes are layered together, nothing incongruent or out of place. Working around the rim of the glass, top to bottom, side to side, unfolds fruity esters changing to grain and cereal notes. Palate: there’s an unexpected creaminess for the 100 proof. The mouthfeel is somewhat like a brandy. It just coats the mouth in loveliness. Honey scores first with brown sugar and dense bread notes rounding third. Bread like you expect from a French country baker. Apple turnovers. The notes rise to a crescendo on the swallow. Peaches with spices of candied ginger and white pepper explode on the back of the throat. The proof returns to wrap you in a warm reminder that it’s a 100 proof bourbon. But it’s not unpleasant at all. There’s a little candy corn note that dances around and even a splash of cherry that presents like Kirsch to me. Finish: long and spicy with a little sprig of mint, orange cream, pickled ginger. It’s welcome to hang out for as long as it pleases. This is a fantastic example of the distillers art. Craft bourbon done right. It’s imminently drinkable and approachable, but you can get as nuanced as you desire and it will tease you further on your journey. This is why Craft Whiskey is King. This is one part daily drinker and one part Saturday night get lost in leather and fire and deep thoughts.

*I am not good at describing the nose and all the notes, but here are my thoughts* I’m a huge fan of 4 grain whiskey. This one is good for those who are also fans but I would not recommend as an introduction to 4 grain. Sweet to the nose, but heavy on the corn with the initial taste. Finishes with the sweetness of the wheat. Subtle heat at the end. This is one I keep on hand when in the mood for a lighter tasting bourbon.

Really enjoying this.. warm caramel notes w a slight Smokey finish. Or maybe that’s the cigar? Sunny day and these two complimented each other. Wonderful drink over the rocks. Recommend

As they say it’s grain forward. It is very easy drinking. Nice smooth mouth feel. Not a lot of spice but man it still has flavor. Found it in Indy for $35. Very good for 2 years old.

Mostly spice and a little smoke on the nose. Taste has a lot of barrel spice and black pepper, once that passes it’s a dark fruit almost raisin on the finish