Here’s the deal…I love this bourbon. This was really the first bourbon I bought that was considered “higher end” and also not a mainstream, readily available bourbon. I had to buy it at auction about a year after it was released for about $150. The reality is, the Market Value of this bottle right now is around $300, depending on where you go. Frankly, it’s worth that much too.
The notes are really quite simple. The nose posses a strong whiff of both cinnamon and vanilla, with a hint of fragrant apples. This tracks as the bourbon is finished in Calvados casks. The taste is rather unique as you still get that apple test, but almost like an apple dessert. A combination of apples and butterscotch. Mix in a little semi-sweet chocolate and just a touch of nutmeg, and it really tastes like burning bourbon dessert.
The finish is fairly long with a decent but not overwhelming burn. What I love on the back end is the aftertaste. Most bourbons have a kind of “chewiness” that you sit with for a few minutes. This bourbon has a true aftertaste. It’s sweet and oaky and rich with apples while still maintaining that core bourbon profile.
Personally, this is my favorite thing in my cabinet right now. At almost any price, it’s worth getting. As with most limited releases, it will only grow more expensive as bottles disappear off the market. Snag one while it’s still semi-reasonably priced. You won’t regret it.