Single-Barrel Bourbon Reviews

All Bourbons reviewed by Gerald Boyd.

These reviews appeared in Santé,
Volume 1/Number 3, March/April 1997.
Reprinted by permission of Mark Vaughan

Reviewer's Note: The common practice when tasting whiskey (whisky) is to cut the spirit with water. In my opinion, these Bourbons were distilled to drink neat, thus water was not used to dilute any of the whiskeys.

A.W. Hirsch / Pot-Stilled Sour Mash Straight Bourbon / 16 Years Old / 91.6 Proof

Light-medium golden amber color; subdued, complex spices and vanilla nose that reveal a new facet with each swirl and sniff; elegant, creamy flavors, spice and pepper accents, hints of rancio and lingering sweetness; smooth finish with no heat. A sophisticated Bourbon for the ideal nightcap. [Preiss Imports]

Benchmark / XO Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 94 Proof

Medium-amber color; deep-roasted nut and caramel nose with subtle rancio notes; full, deep flavors, great balance, creamy texture; a stylish Bourbon with good length. [Sazerac Co., Inc.]

Blanton's / Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 93 Proof

Light, golden amber color; lovely vanilla cream nose with floral and spice accents; smooth and creamy texture, mature whiskey character, caramel and spice notes; great drinking with good length. [Sazerac Co., Inc.]

Elijah Craig / Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 18 Years Old / 90 Proof

Medium-tawny brown color; vanilla and spice aroma with honey and nutmeg notes; good structure, but hard edges with some heat; medium finish with a little raw alcohol note. [Heaven Hill Distillers, Inc.]

Hancock's / President's Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Sour Mash Bourbon / 88.9 Proof

Medium-amber color; nutmeg and vanilla in the nose with a touch of rancio; smooth, vanilla cream flavors, slightly sweet, nutty notes; long, silky finish with great balance. [Sazerac Co., Inc.]

Elmer T. Lee / Single Barrel Kentucky Sour Mash Bourbon / 90 Proof

Medium-deep amber color; grainy/nutty aroma with spice and grassy notes; big textural flavors, caramel and roasted nuts, good length on the palate; little rough in the finish. [Sazerac Co., Inc.]

Henry McKenna / Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 10 Years Old / 100 Proof

Medium-amber, nut brown color; deeply set fruity nose, tangerines, spice and roasted nuts; very smooth, good texture, caramel and honey accents; long, smooth, very persistent finish. [Heaven Hill Distillers, Inc.]

Rock Hill Farms/Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon/100 Proof

Medium-amber, nut brown color; deep caramel and butterscotch nose with spice and rancio notes; dry flavors, mineral accents, balanced, but not creamy; little austere in the finish. [Sazerac Co, Inc.]

Wild Turkey / Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 101 Proof

Medium-amber, nut brown color; deeply set vanilla and spice nose with dried fruit accents; smooth, creamy flavors with spicy notes; very long finish, slightly sweet with no hard edges. [Austin, Nichols & Co.]

Evan Williams / Single Barrel Vintage Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 1988 / 86.6 Proof

Golden amber color; spicy aroma with backnotes of vanilla cream, floral and toasted notes; smooth, creamy caramel flavors, spice and toast notes; long, persistent finish with round and smooth texture. [Heaven Hill Distillers, Inc.]