Stellum Bourbon

STELLUM *NOSE: Cinnamon, Youthful Corn, Oak, Burnt Sugar Cookie, Cherry, Orange Peel, and a Little Heat. *NEAT: Coconut, Cherry, Cedar, Cinnamon, and Fresh Cracked Black Pepper. Some Drying Bitter Tannins on the finish with a Blooming Heat in the Chest reminding you it's almost 115 Proof. Pepper Spice, Drying Oak, and Cinnamon Coat and Layer the Palate. *SPLASH: A little water accentuates the Cherry & Orange on the Nose. On the Palate, it Sweetens the Oak Tannins and gives the Coating Finish a little bit of Barnyard Funk. *VERDICT: This has really improved with some time open. When sampling it back in March I got a lot more "greenness" and youth from what I suspect are less than Ready for Primetime MGP Barrels, but time open has allowed the older KY and TN stocks that were blended in to have more of an influence. I no longer regret the purchase and find it quite enjoyable. However, I feel the $55 (and climbing) asking price will probably make this a one off, but I did enjoy it and can recommend it.

Color is light amber. It looks young, but it has thick legs with a swirl on the glencairn. Sat for about 10 minutes. The nose is a woody marshmallow cherry. First taste is more of the same but plenty of warm borderline burn up front. Taste is a lot of thick maple syrup sweetness, but you taste a strong dry red rye cinnamon as well. Long aftertaste with a nice lighter warming sweetness. Ultimately its a solid drink. Looking forward to it as a manhattan base. This is a solid sipper/mixer being that it was on sale half off, but for $55-ish msrp I can name plenty of better options (Rare Breed, McKenna 10, Knob Single barrel, etc.). Its built for an ice ball, but works on its own. Warm, heavy, and sweet, its great for the season. Worth a try.

On the nose: orange, cinnamon, clove, cherry and vanilla On the palate: caramel, prominent sweet citrus, marzipan, coconut, big spice notes, and some medicinal cherry On the finish: the spice comes out more with BIG cinnamon and clove spice notes, turbinado sugar, sweeter cherry, with a touch of bitter oak With some water added: the palate becomes sweeter and brings out both the caramel and cinnamon flavors more. Overall: Excellent at the $55 mark. It deserves a place alongside my beloved Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, Baker’s and Knob Creek Single Barrel. Barrell nails it again

The nose on this is tight, however I find that there are some light notes of brown sugar and apple blossom (not quite green apple not quite floral). While less than 100 proof on the first sip this comes out hot (which is why it doesn’t get anything above a 4 for me). The flavor curve is quick but mouth feel is wonderful, not to light but not super oily. There are hints of honey, and grass. The finish is DRY… sucks all of the moisture out of your mouth simply asking you to put more juice in. Overall not quite Barrell level but still a decent pour.

Restaurant pour last night. The main notes for me seemed to be caramel-milk chocolate and orange peel. Light oaky notes in the background. All in all, I thought it was pretty good and a well-balanced blend. A lot of times with Dickel in the mix, it can overpower the other flavors, but I didn't find that here. At about $45 around here, it seems a good value in this market. Although, I believe I had a store pick that I liked a little more, and was priced the same.

This bottle intrigued me when I spied it on the shelf of my local grocery store. Upon reading the expert review here, I deemed it worth a try... Raisin, dates, vanilla on the nose... some initial burn (it is 115 proof, after all), apples, spice and more vanilla on the palate... and a spicy finish. This is good. It reminds me a little of Old Tub — which I like very much. Will I buy again? Maybe. But not before I try a bunch of others I've got my sights on.