Old Rip Van Winkle... AKA "ORVW"... A classic! A dang tater classic! This 10 year wheated bourbon is now being distilled and bottled by Buffalo Trace, not the same distillate that created the original "Pappy craze". Regardless, I typically enjoy this mash bill from them (same as the Weller line).
Today I received some good news which means the 'good stuff' is available for pouring. The first bottle that came to mind was this, and as such, I'll be giving it a proper review.
Company on Label: Buffalo Trace
Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Wheated Mash Bill
Proof: 107°
Age: 10 years
Further identification: This is a 2020 release
Nose: Cinnamon, syrupy cherry, candied apple & caramel all immediately present themselves after pouring. Dark oak wafts warmly into the nose from anywhere. Nutmeg and sweet whipped cream paint a wonderful cappuccino portrait. Plum and cherry are now the predominant sweetness. A tiny hint of milk chocolate is hanging around in the back of the glass. Raisin and stewed plums mm give me wicked pie vibes. Is this November in a glass? Dreaming of Fall already. Noses much like Weller Antique does, but definitely has a little more character tonight compared to previous pours. Settling in to a very smooth delivery; the vanilla notes are so perfectly married to the desk oak that floats through. While I'd love to keep funding new notes, this glass seems to have run out of new tricks. I love all the notes I found so far through and can definitely appreciate some of the hype on this one for people who want big flavor with no bite.
Palate: Peppery nutmeg & cinnamon pop! Spicy cherry washes all the sharpness of the first sip down. Whipped heavy cream and caramel settle things into a solid base. Creamy mouth feel continues, but is accompanied with the high flying citrus zest tied to the cherry. Hints of the herbal side of things dare to dart out in between waves of varying cherry profiles. The vanilla sticks in the peripherals of the mouth, adding up to the overall flavor experience over time. I love a pour that builds. In previous tastings I may not have let this come into it's true form on it's own. Yum!
Rating: 4/5
