1.10 - FEW Cask Strength Bourbon (BBS Pick) & Jack Daniel's Barrel Strength

In this episode of the Spirits Blind Tasting podcast I'm doing a blind tasting of the FEW Cask Strength Bourbon picked by the British Bourbon Society and Jack Daniels Barrel Strength. Feel free to follow along with a dram of any of these or any other spirit you enjoy as I try to uncover the aromas and flavors of these 2 spirits.

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My tasting notes from this episode can also be found below:

Spirit A - FEW Cask Strength Bourbon (BBS Pick) (64.38% ABV)

Appearance

• Clarity: Clear
• Intensity: Medium
• Color: Amber
• Suggested texture: Medium oily

Nose

• Condition: Clean
• Intensity: Medium
• Aroma characteristics: Caramel, cinnamon, all spice, vanilla, rye bread, floral notes, dried orange peel, ripe banana, some oak, and nail varnish. Minty/menthol undertones.
• Other notes: ABV comes out of the glass quite sharp. There’s oak but not a lot of char would suggest a younger maturation. Smells like a classic bourbon.
• ABV: ~50%

Palate

• Sweetness: Dry
• Texture: Warming, silky, medium viscosity
• Intensity: Medium > pronounced
• Flavor characteristics: Caramel, oak, burnt toast, ripe bananas, dried orange peel, black peppercorn
• Other notes: Quite bitter on the palate at first, some caramel sweetness follows
• Finish: Long with some complexity (caramel, burnt toast)
• ABV: 50-55%

Conclusion

• Quality level: Very good
• Blind guess: Larger producer Bourbon 6-8 years, not cask finished

Spirit B - Jack Daniel's Barrel Strength (64.5% ABV)

Appearance

• Clarity: Clear
• Intensity: Medium
• Color: Amber
• Suggested texture: Light > medium oily

Nose

• Condition: Clean
• Intensity: Medium
• Aroma characteristics: Quiet nose, dry leather, all spice, peppercorn, nutmeg, dried hazelnuts, burnt sugar, dried orange peel
• Other notes: Subdued aromas are all wrapped in an earthy sensation. Bourbon nose, but something else. Perhaps a vintage bottle.
• ABV: <50%

Palate

• Sweetness: Dry
• Texture: Dry, mouth filling, light viscosity
• Intensity: Pronounced
• Flavor characteristics: burnt toast, burnt sugar, black peppercorn, leather, cigar box, dried orange peel
• Other notes: Very mouth filling and yet feels much lighter in texture
• Finish: Long with some complexity (char, black peppercorn, leather)
• ABV: ~50%

Conclusion

• Quality level: Very good
• Blind guess: Large producer (perhaps vintage) Bourbon 6-8 years, not cask finished

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me at any time on Instagram @spiritspeople