7.9

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle from the membership group, shared with Steve. Opaque, inky black with good viscosity, no head or lacing. Aroma is strong bourbon, sweet malts, slightly spicy. Taste is initial pleasant, mellow bourbon, latter half is more assertive, spicier bourbon along with alcohol heat (diminishes as it warms). Finish holds light dark fruit, and a vanilla sweetness that is akin to vanilla icing sweetness, perhaps mild cacao? Smooth, silky texture, soft carbonation, dry finish as taste.

Overall, this is good and well executed. However, the two barrels seem to be accomplishing different things--Buffalo Trace a mellow, rich, soothing quality vs. the Knob Creek which is spicier and more energetic. Throw in the slight alcohol heat, which is mostly covered at 18%, and you have a different vibe than the first. Both are good in their own right but I don't love the multiple personality nature of it.

It seems to be getting better and better the longer I let it sit in my glass.