Bourbon Whiskey "With Natural Flavors"
Price - $64.99
ABV - 45% (90 proof)
According to the label, "...Southern Artisan Chocolate is combined with our famous Double Barreled Broubon in our secret process to produce this wonderful flavor experience."
On the nose, this is mostly classic cinnamon bourbon notes, fairly singular. I really have to search for the chocolate/cocoa essence - it's there but fleeting. It tastes sweet in a more full-bodied way than the typical bourbon, but sort of one-dimensional. There are vague hints of Tootsie Roll candy, but it's pretty hot on the tongue. I get the most impact from the finish, but still nothing to bowl you over. After working through this tasting I'm starting to get a little more impact on the nose, now that some of the alcohol has dissipated.
I think this really suffers from a lack of commitment. It's a decent enough bourbon to start with, but basic, simple. On its own, it shouldn't command more than a third of this price. With that in mind, I just don't understand why the chocolate is so very subtle and nuanced. I can see not wanting to go crazy like so many other flavored whiskies, but there's plenty of middle ground where this could have been hugely successful and actually worth sixty-five bucks.