u/West_Refrigerator_77

Proof: 129

Nose: Right away, this is a big, bold Booker’s nose. I’m getting strong cherry cola, caramel, buttercream, cinnamon, baking spice, and nutmeg. Honey roasted peanuts are unmistakable, reminding you immediately that you’re drinking a Beam product. It smells a little proofy at first, but after spending a little time in the glass, that heat settles down and I start picking up something that reminds me of rich fudge brownie batter. It’s a really inviting nose with a nice balance of sweetness and classic Booker’s character.

Taste: The first sip comes in hot with plenty of baking spice, pepper, and those signature honey roasted peanuts. It definitely lets you know you’re drinking a 129-proof bourbon. By the second sip, though, everything begins to settle into place. The cherry cola starts to emerge alongside caramel, while the peanuts become sweeter and more integrated. As I keep working through the glass, tobacco and honeycomb begin to develop and add another layer of complexity. There’s a lot to like here, but the proof keeps the edges just a little rougher than I’d prefer.

Feel: Good mouthfeel with plenty of oils coating the palate. It’s rich and enjoyable, but I found myself wishing for just a little more syrupy viscosity. It’s close to excellent, but not quite as decadent as some of my favorite pours.

Finish: Nice, long finish. It starts with a good Kentucky hug, carrying plenty of heat along with baking spice and black pepper. As the spice fades, red fruit begins to emerge before transitioning into brown sugar and a subtle flat cherry cola note that lingers pleasantly. It’s a satisfying finish that keeps evolving without becoming overly drying.

Overall: 8 out of 10 on the t8ke scale.

This is a very, very good Booker’s and one of the better Beam products I’ve had. The cherry cola, caramel, honey roasted peanuts, and tobacco create a really enjoyable profile, and there’s plenty of complexity to keep you coming back for another sip. The only thing holding it back from climbing into my upper tier is that it drinks just a little hot around the edges. With a little more balance and a touch more body, this could have easily pushed into a higher tier.

Color: Deep Orange

Age: NAS

Proof: 131

Nose: This is an incredibly inviting nose, especially considering the proof. Right away I’m getting bright cherry and orange, followed by a little ethanol that quickly settles into burnt sugar, rich caramel, and fresh spearmint. Spending a little more time with the glass reveals crème brûlée and even more caramel. Then it finally clicks—bananas Foster. It’s that unmistakable Jack Daniel’s banana note, but elevated and wrapped in dessert flavors. Toward the end, I even pick up a hint of cocoa nibs. This is a wonderfully engaging nose that balances sweetness and proof remarkably well.

Taste: The first sip opens sweet and fruit-forward before a wave of caramelized sugars, rye spice, and 131-proof heat rolls across the palate. It definitely reminds you of the proof, but it never becomes overwhelming. Cherry, orange, and banana lead the fruit profile before transitioning into rich caramel sauce and almost a dulce de leche character. Pepper, cardamom, and classic rye spice quickly follow, creating a beautiful sweet-and-spicy balance.

The second sip introduces fresh mint and a touch of dill before another rush of caramelized sugars and baking spice. By the third sip, tobacco and butterscotch begin to emerge, adding another layer of depth while the rye spice continues to build. Every sip seems to reveal something new without losing the core identity of the whiskey.

Feel: Outstanding. Rich, syrupy, and nearly perfect. It coats the palate beautifully with thick oils and has exactly the kind of body I look for in a premium whiskey. This is one of the best mouthfeels I’ve experienced in a rye.

Finish: The finish is exceptional. Rye spice leads the way, accompanied by a warm Tennessee hug that reminds you this is still a 131-proof whiskey. As the heat slowly fades, the bananas Foster, caramel, and mint return in waves. It just keeps going. Nearly two minutes later I’m still finding lingering banana, spice, and sweet oak dancing across the palate.

Overall: 9 out of 10 on the t8ke scale.

Wow… just wow.

This is an absolute banger of a bottle. The nose is captivating, the palate is layered and complex, the mouthfeel is nearly flawless, and the finish seems to last forever. Yes, it drinks hot at times, but the proof is backed up by an incredible amount of flavor. If you enjoy bold, high-proof pours and don’t mind a healthy dose of rye spice, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most complete and satisfying rye whiskeys I’ve ever tasted.

This bottle earns a permanent spot on my shelf and joins the upper tier of my collection.

Color: Light Yellow Orange
Age: At least 4 Years
Proof: 100

Nose: Right away this comes across a little youthful and slightly funky. Pear and fresh mint jump out immediately, followed by brown sugar and a healthy dose of rye spice. The ethanol is a little more noticeable than I would expect from a 100-proof Bottled-in-Bond bourbon, giving it a sharper edge than I’d prefer. A little lemon zest and citrus begin to develop with some time in the glass, but overall this is a fairly straightforward nose. Pleasant enough, but nothing that really stands out.

Taste: The first sip opens with a surprising amount of heat, led by rye spice, black pepper, and proof. As it settles down, cinnamon, caramel, and orange begin to emerge and bring some welcome sweetness to the palate. By the second sip, however, bitter tannins and a bright lemon note become much more prominent. As I continue working through the glass, the sweeter caramel notes gain a little ground, but they never completely overcome the spice. It feels like those two sides of the bourbon are constantly battling for control.

Feel: This is probably the weakest part of the pour. The mouthfeel is quite thin, almost like brown water with just a trace of oil coating the palate. It drinks easily enough, but it lacks the richness and viscosity that I look for in a bourbon.

Finish: Medium in length with the rye spice taking center stage. Cinnamon and pepper linger throughout most of the finish, while I also pick up a surprising dill note that reminds me of a high-rye whiskey. A little caramel and citrus eventually return near the very end, but the spice remains the dominant impression.

Overall: 5 out of 10 on the t8ke scale.
There’s a decent amount of good going on here, but at the end of the day it’s just an average bourbon for my palate. After finishing my review, I added a few drops of water, and that made a noticeable improvement. The spice softened considerably, the sweetness opened up, and the whole profile developed a pleasant sweet tea character that I found much more enjoyable.
While I wouldn’t reach for this bottle to sip neat often, I think it would make an excellent workhorse bourbon for cocktails. The rye spice and just enough proof hold up well in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, and that’s probably where this bottle shines the brightest.

Color: Golden amber

Age: 15 years

Proof: 108

Nose: Sweet tobacco, vanilla, caramel, and burnt sugar lead the way. Cooked apples begin to emerge, eventually developing into something that reminds me of rich apple butter. There is plenty of oak here, as you would expect from a 15-year bourbon, but it never becomes overly bitter on the nose. Cinnamon and a light nuttiness round everything out and add a little extra depth.

Taste: This is about as close to textbook bourbon as you can get. Sweet oak, caramel, vanilla, burnt sugar, and tobacco all work together in excellent balance. It is neither too hot nor too soft, and it never tries to reinvent the wheel—it is simply really darn good bourbon.
A touch of bitter oak develops alongside an almost cappuccino-like note. I am normally sensitive to bitter oak, but it works surprisingly well here, providing contrast and keeping the sweeter flavors from becoming too heavy. A subtle pepper note also appears, but once again, it remains controlled and well integrated.

Feel: Very good mouthfeel. It may be just a little thinner than I would ideally prefer, but it drinks smoothly and coats the palate nicely with a layer of oils. It has enough body to feel satisfying without becoming heavy.

Finish: Rye spice, black pepper, and tobacco lead the finish. It is medium in length, beginning to fade after roughly 30 seconds, though a softer layer continues to linger. Chocolate and vanilla frosting appear near the end, adding a final touch of sweetness as the spice and oak slowly trail away.

Overall: 8.25 out of 10.
This is quintessential bourbon. It delivers a mature, classic profile with plenty of oak, caramel, vanilla, tobacco, and burnt sugar, all presented with impressive balance. It does not rely on novelty or extreme proof to make an impression. Instead, it succeeds through refinement and execution.
At MSRP, this is an excellent value for a 15-year single barrel. The mouthfeel could be slightly richer, but the smooth delivery, mature flavor profile, and well-managed oak make this a deeply satisfying pour.

Gotta hit up Old Forester’s Whiskey Row location for a tour and tasting this afternoon. I wish I had taken more pictures but it was truly an awesome tour. You start off learning the history of Brown Foreman, then get to go through the entire bourbon making process. Seeing a barrel get charred in person was wild!

Our tour guide was friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, and guided us through a tasting of the Whiskey Row core line up. A special treat for me as a bourbon nerd… this years birthday bourbon was being bottle as we went by the assembly line.

The gift shop had a few special bottles , a 117 series 1910 Extra Aged, 1924, and a single barrel barrel proof.
Overall I would encourage anyone coming by Louisville to do the tour!

Color: Deep Amber

Age: Blend of 8, 9, and 15 Year Whiskey

Proof: 110.8

Nose: Holy cow this is a good nose. Right off the bat I’m getting chocolate-covered cherries, graham crackers, brown sugar, crème brûlée, caramel, and French vanilla. There’s also some banana bread and marshmallow in there that really pushes this thing into full-on dessert territory. This is one of those pours where you could just sit there and sniff it for a long time and be perfectly content. It’s layered, rich, and incredibly inviting.

Taste: Chocolate and caramel come rushing in first, followed quickly by sweet oak, baking spice, and cherry. This is a very dessert-forward sip, and it carries a lot of the same richness from the nose onto the palate. On later sips, the oak starts to show a little more, and that’s really the only thing keeping this from climbing even higher for me. It doesn’t go fully bitter, but there is just a touch of oak bitterness that creeps in and holds it back a little.

Feel: Almost perfect. Oily, thick, and creamy. This is exactly the kind of mouthfeel I’m looking for in a high-end pour. It coats the palate beautifully and feels rich without being over the top.

Finish: Good Kentucky hug on this one and a long finish. Baking spice, chocolate, tobacco, brown sugar, and cherry all keep hanging around. This is a really satisfying finish and does a great job extending that dessert-forward experience.

Overall: This might be my new favorite double-oaked bourbon. This is right up there with some of the best dessert-forward pours I’ve had, and in some ways it may even edge a few of them out. The nose is outstanding, the mouthfeel is almost perfect, and the flavor profile is absolutely in my wheelhouse. The only thing holding this one back from a 9 is that little touch of bitterness on the oak. Even with that, this is a heck of a pour and an easy 8.75 out of 10 on the t8ke scale.

Color: Orangish Bronze

Age: NAS

Proof: 125

Nose: Very effervecent on first sniff, lots of citrus and pine notes. I get notes of almost like an orange creamsaver lifesaver with little hints of mint or cilantro. A little ethanol note, but nothing major. Some seriious creme brule shows up with fresh spring strawberrys. This is very nice. Lots of spicy notes, but not over powering. I love this nose.

Taste: This is a bourbon drinkers rye. I get a ton of caramel, burnt sugar and orange upfront, followed quickly by some rye spice and sage or rosemary notes, then a ton of candided citrus. Brown sugar presents on the back palette with almost a bright cherry note. I almost get some jolly rancher notes while sipping this. It’s really good.

Feel: Wow this nice. Darn near perfect mouth feel. Syrup sweet, just thick enough, coats the mouth well, oily but not too thick, my goodness this is on point for texture.

Finish: She’s got some heat, theres a sugary kentucky hug. Lot of baking and rye spice start on the finish, followed by a nice smokey and peppery notes. Strong flavors dance on the tongue during the finish. It lasts about a minute or so. That candied citrus shows up again on the back end of the finish.

Overall: 8.75 out of 10. That is by far the best rye I’ve ever had. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s smokey, it’s caramelly, it’s syrupy… it’s so good. This is now earning a permanant spot on my shelf. At less than $45, this is an incredible value pour. The only thing holding this back from a higher score is it may lack a little complexity from some bourbons or scotchs I’ve tried… but it’s so freaking good. Go out and buy two bottles.

Sorry for the lack of an original photo, this one got lost in the clouds .

Color: Orangish copper

Age: Made from 5-7 year barrels according to the press release.

Proof: 114

I’ve been excited to try this one as I typically love a good Wheated bourbon. I wasn’t blown away by the original GR Wheated but am hopeful a few more proof points will increase my opinion of it.

Nose: Caramel is the first thing I get on the nose, very deep. Peaches present next followed by chocolate. Pie Crust comes next with a little spice note and a weak Citrus note. A little teryaki on the end.

Taste: The Caramel carries forward up front, with baking spice, orange and peaches. It’s an interesting combination. A bit of chocolate, and a little oak show up towards the end. There are some good notes but I’m not exactly loving how they all play together.

Feel: Decent feel, not too thin, wish it was a little thicker.

Finish: Medium. Nice Kentucky hug after a few sips. Doesn’t overwhelm you, but you can definitely feel it.

Overall: 7 out of 10. This was a marked improvement over Green River Wheated. I don’t think this quite gets up to Weller 107 or Full Proof levels and honestly side by side I preferred the new Makers cask strength. Still a high quality pour at a good price point.

Color: Reddish Amber
Age: 10 Years
Proof: 100

Nose: Right away, I’m getting all kinds of dessert notes coming out of the glen. Chocolate covered cherries jump out first, followed by cookie butter, cinnamon, cardamom, and allspice. On further sniffs, some orange and vanilla start to work their way in, and after sitting with it a little longer, I’m picking up a touch of coffee and espresso as well. Late in the nose, that sweet oak starts to emerge with some tobacco, and that’s where this really starts to separate itself.
This is an incredibly complex and layered nose. It keeps changing the longer I sit with it, and honestly, I’m really, really digging this one before I even take a sip.

Taste: The palate comes in strong with chocolate, sweet oak, tobacco, and allspice right up front. Then it moves into some really nice caramel and vanilla custard on the mid-palate, with a little citrus and dark stone fruit showing up toward the back end.
The more I chew on it, the more I keep getting flashbacks to Little Debbie Fudge Rounds — chocolate cake, cream filling, and just enough sweetness to keep pulling me back in. On the second sip, the tobacco and sweet oak become even more prominent, followed by a nice tingle of baking spice and a little dulce de leche.
This hits my favorite flavor profiles in spades. Dessert, oak, tobacco, chocolate, baking spice — it is all there, and it works beautifully.
Feel: Oily, syrupy, and creamy. This has a really nice body to it and coats the palate well. It is just a smidge off from being perfect, but it is very close to the kind of mouthfeel I’m looking for in a top-tier pour.

Finish: Long, dessert-forward finish. It starts with fudge brownies and cola, then moves into cigar, baking spice, and finally ends with lingering cherry notes. The subtle flavors hang around for more than two minutes, which is exactly what I want from a bottle like this. It does not just disappear. It keeps evolving.

Overall: This is a 9 out of 10 for me on the t8ke scale.
I’ve got to buy a backup of this one. It is that good. I am absolutely in love with the dessert and oak notes here, and this bottle checks so many of the boxes I look for: chocolate, sweet oak, tobacco, fruit, baking spice, great texture, and a long finish.
Old Forester 1924 is already a bottle I was excited about, but this 2026 release really delivered. This is an incredible bottle and one I am going to truly savor.

Color: Yellow-Orangish Copper

Age: 5 Years

Proof: 117.8

Nose: This is a little different than a lot of the other bourbons I’ve reviewed. This bourbon is very mesquite-forward on the nose. It smells like a cross between a good barbecue and a Sharpie marker. I’m almost getting a cornbread vibe from this. This is very savory with a little bit of citrus, peanut butter, and banana hidden underneath. It’s very unique.

Taste: I get a lot of different fruit notes on the front of the tongue, and then some nice spices in the mid and back palate. There’s some very strong citrus notes, almost like orange or mango, followed by a bit of banana’s foster and then some vanilla. It’s then followed up by a surge of baking spice and rye. It will tickle the tongue and then some. On further sips, the fruit notes, followed by spice, continue to hold up. Not much oak with this one. Caramel does present itself a lot on later sips as you accustom yourself to it.

Feel: This has no business feeling this good at 5 years. It’s creamy and oily, but not too syrupy. It may be just a notch or two thinner than perfect for me, but man, that is nice for 5-year juice.

Finish: Good long finish, a bit of a Kentucky hug, but not overpowering. She’s got fruit and spice, followed by almost a nice barbecue note.

Overall: 7.5 out of 10. This is very interesting and very good, but not a standard bourbon. This kind reminds me of a younger Blanton’s Gold, but it’s a batch product instead of a single barrel. She definitely drinks sweet and savory, but I like it a lot.

Color: Orangish Amber

Age: 10 Year

Proof: 107.98

Note: Appalachian Barrel Company is a non-distilling producer that sources and sells high-quality single-barrel products. This is one of the highest age stated products they’ve released so far which was a single barrel in Lexington Kentucky at the Hamburg Liqour Barn. I’ve learned over the last few months the CER barrels were sourced from Wild Turkey.

Nose: Right off the bat I get two very strong scents, sharpie marker and peanut butter. This thing has a very unique and distinct nose. As it conitnues to open up I get notes of chocolate mixing in making it smell almost like a peanut butter cup. A swirling of the glen reveals some notes of dark caramel, apricot, and raisin. This is a very unique nose, it’s nice but it’s different.

Taste: A rush of sugar caramel is over taken by pepper and rye spice. That peanut note evolves into a peanut brittle followed by notes of mint, baking spice, and caradmom. Notes of Creme Brûlée and soft Stone Fruit trickle in, but it is very feint.

Feel: Heck of a Kentucky hug on this one, it drinks hotter than it’s proof. The mouth feel is oily and thick, overall pretty nice.

Finish: A bit bitter, Peppery, some sugar and fruit on the back end. Medium Length

Overall: 7.5 out of 10 for me on the T8ke Scale for this one. It drinks just a little too hot for me to give it much higher. There’s some really nice notes going on, but that heat and spice can be a little more than I like. I also feel like at $120ish MSRP there are several 10 year bourbons I would reach for before this.

Color: Bright Copper

Age: NAS

Proof: 111.6

Nose: Caramel Fudge, and a little bit of cinnamon red hot pop off initially on the first sniff. There is a little savory/funky note on this… almost presents like a hickory bbq sauce. Sweet Oak and tobacco are present on further investigation. Peaches and a little apricot or orange show up on the back end.

Taste: Oak rushes forward with a lot of bitter cacao notes and some capucino. There is a little caramel and vanilla on the mid palette with a strong smokey note on the back end. This one is an absolute oak bomb as it opens up. Some tobacco and leather are there on further sips. Man this one drinks savory. Also a little hotter tasting than I would expect for the proof.

Feel: A little thinner than I would like. It is oily, but it’s not creamy at all.

Finish: Smokey and peppery finish that lingers about 45 seconds to a minute. Not overly complex, a little stone fruit shows up on the end.

Overall: 6 out of 10. This is not my favorite Makers product that I’ve ever had, but I wanted to suport one of my local shops. I’m curious how different stave combinations would taste, but this particular one was not great for my palete.

Color: Reddish Amber

Age: 8 Years and almost 4 months

Proof: 100

Nose: Holy toasted marshmallow Batman… this is the strongest note like this I’ve ever gotten off a bourbon. It’s freaking smores in a glass… cinnamon graham crackers, chocolate, the marshmallow and then someone decided to get funky and drizzle sea salt caramel on it. A little tobacco and banana fosters note shows up as your swirl. This is a dessert bomb for the nose. Holy cow… I would kill to have this in a candle. I went to take a sip and the banana fosters just jumped all up in my grill… wow.

Taste: Oh man, this is sweet and smoky in the best ways possible. I get creme brule, bananas foster, chocolate fudge, and then a ton of oak and tobacco. This is a dessert bomb and a half. There’s a little more in spice and tobacco on later sips, but it is so well balanced. Only thing that would make this better is getting some dark stone fruit.

Feel: It’s thick enough, but I would like it a little thicker. She’s syrupy and creamy. It coats the mouth well, I just want a little more viscosity and body .

Finish: Man, this finishes forever. It’s like smoking a good cigar… you just want to sip and savor. Each of the sips has a chocolate and tobacco note that lasts forever. There is some awesome sweet oak notes with this finish.

Overall: 8.5 out of 10. This bottle has no business being this good at $75. I have had bottles I’ve paid double that for and not enjoyed as much. This one has been getting hyped up, and for good reason. Now obviously this is a single barrel, and your mileage may vary… but this bottle is blooming awesome

Color: Orangish Amber

Age: 4 Years

Proof: 125

Nose: Very traditional bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla. Very much a cakey nose, specifically birthday cake. Some hints of cherry and cinnamon show up in the end. The ethanol is there on this one, but it’s not overwhelming. I’m getting some kind of almost savory note I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s kinda like turkey funk, but the smell is different. It almost kinda reminds me of like a caramelized onion note. It’s very interesting.

Taste: You feel the proof on this one very quickly. The heat rolls across the tongue with notes of baking spice, rye, and cinnamon. I then get some tastes of caramel, vanillia, and a little fudge brownie. There’s a weak fruit note on the back, almost like a honeycrisp apple.

Feel: A little watery consistency, but a good oiliness to it. The coating could be a little better. Her age is definitely holding her back here.

Finish: The tongue is going to tingle a little bit as the finish begins. The spice carries over and transitions to a bit of a tobacco note with a pretty strong Kentucky hug. Medium length on the finish.

Overall: 7 out 10. I like this… but I’m torn on it. Without having tried a Willett Purple Top Single Barrel yet, I don’t feel like I have a good point of reference as to what a purple top should be. Taking that out of the equation and just judging it on what’s in the glass… I would say this is very good to great. I really enjoy the spice and the caramel playing with the fruit notes. She is hot and rough around the edges, so that does take away from the experience some. I would not pay more than MSRP on this… and I’m going to have to consider whether or not I get a replacement when she’s gone. I really need to blind this versus a Benchmark Full Proof and a 1792 Full Proof to see what comes out on top.

Color: chocolate brown to orange

Age: Blend of 8-9 year Bourbon

Proof: 100 Proof

Nose: On first sniff I get a rush ofCaramel , Chocolate, Vanilla, and Oak. After a little swirling she shows some fruit notes a burnt Orange , a little red apple . This one comes across a little muted at times… like there is more hiding in that blend but it just doesn’t want to sing.

Taste: Interesting profile on first sip with a taste chocolate crossiant, brown butter, almonds first appearing. A lot of spice notes follow cinnamon, and white pepper taking the lead followed by orange, a little tobacco. Astringency from the oak appears on the back end of the palette.

Feel: oily and syrupy. Nice coating and texture. Lovely! Really the best part of the dram.

Finish: A little spice, red fruit, oak and smokiness. Burnt sugar shows up and then it drops off but lingers subtlety for a while. Lot of cocoa and chocolate notes with a little chewing .

Overall: 6.5 out of 10 for this bottle from 15 Stars. It’s really good, but it feels like it’s holding back and never goes full send. I enjoyed it a lot, but feel like this would be better a few proof points higher.

Color: Dark Chocolate (this thing is darker than any 6-year whiskey I’ve ever seen).

Age: 6 Years

Proof: 126.36

Notes: This is single barrel from Youtube Whiskey Weatherman Brandon Spinner (Check him out on his channel Whiskey Weather). This was a single barrel picked from Midwest Spirits and was available to his Patreon’s. An interesting weather note about this barrel: it was aged during the hottest 6-year stretch in Columbus.

Nose: Cinnamon and Rye spice jump up on the forefront with a bit of apple showing up just behind it. I almost get a teriyaki note from this, very earthy and pungent, but in a good way. There’s some vanilla and deep burnt sugars on the back end. A little piney note shows up after a few swirls. This is a nice nose.

Taste: The spice hits the front, mid, and back of the palate, but not in an overpowering way. I get a nice blend of rye, cinnamon, and baking spices, followed up quickly by a custardy sugar and hints of apple pie. There is a bit of a savory note on the back of the tongue, almost like a hoisin sauce, as well as a few bitter chocolate notes.

Feel: She’s thick, she’s creamy, she’s oily, and she gives you a Kentucky, or in this case I guess Ohio hug and a half.

Finish: The finish on this one goes for a while. I continue to get the spice notes from the taste, as well as hints of chocolate and a little bit of a bready note. I almost get a little brininess to end, but it kinda blends with that asian bbq sauce thing it’s got going on… really nice.

Overall: 8.5 out of 10. So I am not normally huge into Rye’s but if more Rye’s drank like this I would drink more Rye. She’s complex, she’s spicy but not over powering, theres a lot of great tasting and aeromatic notes, this was a killer pick and I’m glad I got a bottle.