Special Additional Age 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

Distillers occasionally find barrels of whiskey that, for one reason or another, are more distinctive and perhaps not yet at their drinking point. These whiskeys receive additional age and are bottled and sold as Special Bourbons.

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.

I.W. Harper / Gold Medal Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 15 Years Old / 80 Proof

Medium-golden amber color; low-intensity aroma, spice and dried cherries with a grassy-earthy backnote; soft, silky texture, light-medium honeyed flavors; smooth, medium finish. [United Distillers USA, Inc.]

Labrot & Graham / Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 90.4 Proof

Medium-golden amber color; delicate, vanilla cream aroma with subtle spicy and honey notes; dry fruity/floral flavors, trace of roasted nuts; medium finish with a hint of sweetness. [Brown-Forman Beverages]

Old Charter / Proprietor's Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 13 Years Old / 90 Proof

Medium-amber, nut brown color; roasted nuts, caramel, spice and a hint of rancio in the aroma; sweet brown sugar and spice and floral accents in the taste; medium-full finish with some persistence. [United Distillers USA, Inc.]

Old Fitzgerald / Very Special Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 12 Years Old / 90 Proof

Medium-amber, nut brown color; forward vanilla cream and citrus aroma with an underlying grainy note; very smooth entry, thick body, hints of spices and dried fruits; long, persistent finish. [United Distillers USA, Inc.]

W.L. Weller / Centennial Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 10 Years Old / 100 Proof

Medium, nut brown color; muted floral aroma with hints of nutmeg and charred oak; smooth entry, fills out to big, powerful caramel and spice flavor; very long, "breathless" finish that says Bourbon. [United Distillers USA, Inc.]

Wild Turkey / Rare Breed Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Barrel Proof / 109 Proof

Nut brown color; forward, dried fruit and spice aroma with subtle honeyed backnotes; big chewy flavors, caramel and smoky notes; powerful persistent finish. [Austin, Nichols & Co.]