Stillhouse Black Bourbon

This was a totally unexpected purchase today. I'd never even heard of this bourbon until this afternoon. Usually I get eye rolls from my wife when I tell her I'm going to buy another bottle. But when she saw this, she actually said to me, "Oh, you HAVE TO get this!" So, whenever I encounter genuine enthusiasm and encouragement, I can't possibly squander such an opportunity. LOL! So here goes... Color: Amber with a definite "mahogany" tinge from the coffee element. Nose: Light nose with familiar notes of oak and leather I've gotten from most bottles. Palate: Strange initial flavor. I am definitely getting the "coffee" from this. It's impossible to not detect it. Some sweetness. Slightly bitter on the mid-palate, and slightly harsh on the downward journey. Moderate burn for a lowest-of-the low proof allowed for bourbon. It's an... "interesting" pour — which I wholly attribute to the coffee influence. But, in all honesty... it ain't too bad. I wish I knew the age of this stuff. But I can say it doesn't taste youthful, as I was expecting it to. Finish: Fairly long finish. I just keep coming back to the "coffee", because it truly is the focal point of this stuff. I don't see this as ever becoming a repeat purchase, let alone in my regular rotation. But I'm glad I gave this a try, and will indeed finish the "bottle". 2.75 stars, just falling short of 3.0 stars. Added 10/31/24: I attended a Pumpkin Carving party last night with my neighbors. I brought this over to share. It got a similar, "Not bad!" reaction from those who partook. They actually came back to it for a second pour. So, there you go!

STILLHOUSE BLACK NOSE: Young, but nice. Young Oak, Straw, Orange Peel, Peanut, and maybe the slightest hint of Coffee in the background. NEAT: Young, Thin, and Fruity. Light Vanilla, Bitter Oak, Orange with a slightly harsh finish. Again, maybe just a hint of Coffee on the aftertaste. SPLASH: A little water takes away some of the burn and bitterness but doesn't really improve it in any way and makes what little coffee influence there was disappear. VERDICT: Two of my favorite things on the planet are whiskey and coffee, so of course I was curious about this one. I was expecting more Coffee Influence? Something I could experiment and cocktail with. Without the Coffee influence, all you've got here is bottom shelf whiskey in a tin can. Something I'll dump into Bourbon & Cokes at my next cookout. This has inspired me to experiment with my own coffee bean infusion. If it's a success, I'll report back.

Sipping neat from an old fashioned glass. Didn’t rest it because who has time for that in short span between putting kids to bed and going to sleep myself? On the nose I get the coffee, faint vanilla bean, and a whiff of ethanol. Maybe even some of the candied nuts that pervade the mall come Christmas time. It’s sweet, and peaty, and woody. It’s woodsy and peaty and sort of harsh on the pallet. Maybe a little brown sugar. The finish lasts a good while. No Kentucky Hug, per se, but a nice lingering tingle of wood, peat, and something reminiscent of over ripened pear.

Looks like weak coffee. Nose is earthy with peaty and leather most foward. Sharp start we with a sweet oak with the coffee coming through on the mid palate. The finish holds a ethanol burn with that hint of coffee still coming through. Tastes hotter than the 40 abv might indicate. Overall a interesting twist on a middle road bourbon that I would really like to say was better but ends up being just OK for the price.. one of those bourbons due to packaging you really just want to be better. Not sure i would purchase it again at this point.

Tried neat thanks to my friend adam for buying this for me! Sitting here at Guadalupe mountain national park. On the nares i get slight vanilla, caramel, cherries, rasberries,. On the palate it doesnt taste as sweet as it smells but with notes of oak, nuts, butter. Rated with the help of my beautiful wife! Not super complex and bland finish but good for camping and about to throw some ice in it and have another pour!

I think this one punches way above its weight. My wife picked this up and I was like - seriously? Out of a can? But I guess its a lesson that good bourbons can come from anywhere & I like this one. I get the strong coffee taste, mixed with vanilla. The finish is smooth & a little mild - but I get a nice transition to black liquorice/anise. I enjoy it for the money and would buy it again.