Sweetens Cove Kennessee Bourbon

Rested in Glencairn for almost an hour. Initial nose was alcohol forward with a hint of sweet toast. Overly rested nose is faint, so I missed the prime ripening but oh well. Palate is surprisingly smooth up front for being a 110 proof, caramel, sweet maple notes, a little nutty. Then the heat and burn slowly rolls in and reminds you it’s almost 111 proof. A bit of heat when it’s on the tongue, but as soon as you swallow the spicy burn begins. Mild at first, then 8 seconds in you’re noticing it’s still growing. Warmth swells in the throat and back of the tongue. Spicy burn along the sides and rear top of tongue. 14 seconds and you think it’s beginning to fade, then oddly a second wave swells peaking around 22-25 seconds and feeling it in the sinuses. By 30 seconds you are still feeling it, but it is subsiding. For being a fan of high proof options, this had a unique profile and made me take notice. Probably wont be an overall favorite, but still a nice one to kick back with and engage the senses.

NEAT NOSE - Sweet Maple and Caramel. This honestly smells like maple syrup with a nice, sweet and approchable ethanol hit. It’s not overpowering at all. There is also some subtle brown sugar and bananna. PALATE - It seems a little thin at first on the front of the palate, but as I move it around, it totally coats my mouth and I get dark brown sugar and maple notes. Unlike the nose, I’m not picking up any caramel on the palate. FINISH - Not too short and not too long. It’s about midway but it’s pretty pleasant. On the finish is where I get that hunt of bananna. BUY? - For sure. It’s a unique and enjoyable pour. BUY AGAIN?? - At this price and proof point, I would pick up another one for sure. I could see this being a pour that I reach for every so often.

Served: Neat for 3 sips, then 1 ice cube the rest of the pour Notes: Starts peppery & hot but trickles into a warm velvet mouthful. Slight hint of raisins, then cinnamon & cream, with a subtle lingering of oaty bread. Probably got small swells of licorice. Comments: Got these notes only from my first drink. I’d say it’s worth the price simply because of the amount of complex flavors it offers. Only advanced drinkers will acknowledge the work put into this Bourbon, and it would be an amazing weekend sipper if price wasn’t an issue.

Review is it's good...definitely a bit hot and gives that kerosene taste right off the bat. But has a mix of brown sugar(good amount), toffee/caramel (barely), and then a lingering peppery spice flavor. I'm liking it but don’t love it at almost $50. At $45, it's not going to replace any of the good daily sippers at $30 (Russell's, 1792, smoke wagon, weller, Buffalo trace), but it's good.

Exceptional dram! Loads of oaked maple syrup up front. I get a lot of strawberries and pitted cherries as well! Hints of nutmeg and clove meet me on the finish! Very well balanced, and not overly complex!

If you like Peton Manning you'll love his bourbon 😁. One of the best toppers in the biz. Edit: this is growing on me. Re:maple, image Knob Creek maple divided by 10. It's well balanced in this.