Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot "B" 12 Year

Dark copper in color. Sparse legs are slow forming and slow-moving. Nose has a lot going on and it's all coming at the same time. Overtones of dark caramel, vanilla, and aged oak. Undertones of mint, cigar boxes, baking spices, red apple and a waft of flaked grain and barn must. The barrel is an even and steady presence... Never in the background, but not stealing the show either. It is gentle and coating on the palate, with a building progression of warmth that follows the swallow. Creme brulee, soft, dark caramel/burnt sugar, and buttercream frosting up front give way to dark chocolate covered cherries and dry oak. The highlight is a rich and creamy finish that is both long and complex. Reminiscent of a freshly cut piece of wood from antique furniture. The cigar boxes make a return late in the game along with the frosting... This is quite possibly the most well balanced bourbon I've ever had. I've had more complex ones, and ones that are amazing but dominated by the barrel. This is just unparalleled in balance.

One of my closest friends is undergoing a messy divorce. So we decided to go out with his bro and ease the pain with some quality drinks. Saw this on a special lit shelf and decided what the hell?! We've never had anything Pappy's and you live once. I was stoked to say the least. The aroma yielded some very inviting characters consisting of baked apples, cinnamon, and vanilla. The flavor gave off a similar experience with some added caramel, oak and faint hint of leather. What surprised me was the bite. I didn't expect the burn it provided considering the caliber and hype behind anything Pappy related. It persisted longer than anticipated, but didn't ruin the experience overall. I definitely would buy a bottle if priced fairly, but would steer clear from anything secondary. Not worth the 💰 IMHO.

Nose: heavy oak, dark chocolate, wood char, hint of dark cherry. Red apple. Taste: dark chocolate and heavy oak. Honey dripped on peaches and raisins and fuji apples. Light whisper of floral notes. Finish strongly of burnt caramel and cherry and red apple. Very oily. Tastes like eagle rare but deeper aged / the barrels are burnt more. Water collapses the nose and taste into sweet caramel and fruit

Just tried another oz. Absolutely delicious but as a scotch drinker, i swear im drinking a sherry casked or wine casked speyside. It has those exact fruit notes and flavors to me. Most scotch like bourbon ive ever tried. If youre a bourbon drinker and love this, do yourself a favor and try some unpeated sherry or port casked highland scotches. More similar than youd think.

Kentucky Bourbon Festival Capsule Review: Nose: Cherry, vanilla, and the classic grape notes that come with Buffalo Trace products Palate: Oak, barrel char, some spice Finish: Short For me the best part of this is the nose, it's a fine sipper but on this occasion, I wish I had more of what I liked on the nose on the palate.

Finally cracking this bottle to celebrate a huge accomplishment! Tried neat. On the nares I get apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple. On the palate it’s very smooth and herbal with notes of vanilla, pecan, cinnamon, pitted fruits, slight charred oak with a nice finish of pride & success to finish this lovely pour. @Looneyhead