Aged Leather | Tobacco | Spices | Mingling of Raisins and Cherries

TASTE: Caramel Corn | Raisins | Heavy Spice and Oak

FINISH: Spicy undertones and oak that at first appear a bit astringent but fade quickly to a dry finish with a slow simmering burn. Just a hint of the raisins remains to keep it interesting.

SHARE WITH: Share with those that can appreciate the quality of this whiskey and will appreciate the gesture.

WORTH THE PRICE: $129.99 is a big price for an 11-year-old bourbon, but in this case, I support the investment. It’s an exceptional example of an 11-year-old whiskey and a fitting addition to the PHC line up and Parker’s legacy. (Just don’t bunker it okay? Drink the damn thing.)

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: If you have the money, and the luck, you won’t regret grabbing a bottle of this year’s PHC release.

OVERALL: I simply love the nose on this bourbon. If you had me smell it blind, I would have guessed it was much older than it is. And yes, if I could get this aroma in a candle I’d buy a case. The color is gorgeous, and its legs are fine. It sips smooth and sweet initially but quickly hits you with a heavy punch of spices and oak. While there was a hint of fruit – mostly raisins – I would have preferred a bit more depth of flavor and balance between the sweet and spice/oak. In other words, the heavy hit of spice and oak was a bit overpowering. As a result, there was a rush of astringency on the finish that I could have done without, but luckily, it faded to a nice balance of spice, fruit, and oak. Adding in a bit of water tamed the astringency without any negative side effects. In summary, I enjoyed this year’s PHC release immensely and hope that I’ll be able to find a bottle in the wild to add to my collection at home – my drinking collection.

Learn more about Pop’s whiskey preferences and check out more of his reviews…