Q's Quest to Nothing

  Nose: A slightly spicy nose with a backdrop of sweetness. Somehow, it reminds me of a tunnel; when you draw air through the nose, the bourbon itself seems to come closer to you - like riding thought on a motorcycle. A little swirl brings out even more of the sweetness and settles to a honeydew like feeling – nectar. Mid-palate: A immediate spice coupled with a spike of bitterness, more strength than your standard Limited-Edition Small Batch expression – more reminiscence of a flavorful four rose barrel strength bottle. A second sip carries with it more essence of the mid-palate. In many ways, this tastes more like a rye than your standard high-rye bourbon—notes of grassiness in the finish. The flavor and warmth that accompanies this bourbon long endure past the first complete sips – a phenomenal fireplace bourbon. A sustaining heat profile allows you to play with, thinning the flavor out and offering a warming sensation of a Kentucky embrace. I find myself feeling intrigued ...

  Stoical [stoh-i-kuhl ] | Adj. 1. impassive; characterized by a calm, austere fortitude befitting the Stoics: To accomplish anything of significance in life, we must first believe in ourselves. Fortitude. Without cognitive strength and resolve, it is challenging to grow. Some people grace our lives and believe in us more than we do (mentors - be thankful for them and make sure to treasure them); however, eventually, we must learn to walk on our own two feet. Others may help guide and support us, but no one is capable of living your life for you. "The calm sea does not make a skilled sailor." ~ African Proverb. On the road to becoming who we are or who we desire to be, there are lessons wrapped in adversity to test you. It is not in prosperity that one grasp greatness; it is through tribulations. The challenges we face in life are what forces us out of the static nature associated with the humdrum of life. Embedded in the difficulty lies a pearl of wisdom or abi...

Nose:  A nutty nose with a spiciness that singes the nose slightly. After the second or third whiff, there appears to be a slight earthiness with something the reminds me of a cup of tea – Oolong to be precise.    Palate:  The front offers an oakiness tannic flavor similar to the 2019 expression. In a recent tasting of the 2019 Birthday Bourbon (opened for about a year), the oakiness was extensive – I had thought it was due to the duration of how long it was open, but it appears not.  Bourbon, over time, tends to approach what some call “atrophy.” I think of this “atrophy” as oakiness, sometimes it overwhelms, but other times, it changes to a uniqueness that I quite like.  A purist would say that you need to decant it into a sample jar without headspace for air to prevent it from significantly changing; I quite like things to naturally progress rather than holding on and preventing it from becoming what it may be.  "When we are open to things, all poss...

Nose: If you want to know what a four rose rick house smells like, that rose may very well have captured that smell. Such an inviting sweet nectar with a hint of floral spiciness that heightens the senses. Mid-palate: Soft, sweet, yet spicy at the same time... I get an initial lime-like sourness followed by a clear line of distinctive bitterness followed by sweetness and spiciness that manages to blend itself immensely well - not in the negative thought to those taste, but more like a refined synergy that seems like a magic trick that you don't quite believe. There is a feeling of as if someone dropped it into your mouth and it just splattered all over with that mixture of flavor from multiple directions. The finish reminds me of a dark fruit – maybe a black cherry. The second sip brings a warmth of sweetness that adds a layer of good warming heat. That Kentucky hug comes to you and embraces you slowly as the linger oakiness intermingled with sweetness sets the stage for the ...

  Nose: A spicy nose swirled with a wheater like sweetness.   The first sniff feels like a slight singe, but the second and third pulls you back in. A rich caramelized sugar.   Palate: A surge of spiciness ingrained with depth and layered smacked right at your face - an immediately wake up call. It warms your whole body while seemingly coating every crevice of your mouth.   I’m reminded of my mom when she eats a really spicy pepper – “Ummm that’s hot.” then follows with devouring the pepper with glee. It is so potent with the heat profile that it takes a matter of minutes before the flames of it swirls and take over the mouth—a phenomenal item to heat-manipulate by funneling (drawing air slowly into the mouth). The profile itself is layered upon layers of rich acute heat amid a sea of flavor. Decently dense (not at the level of KOK or VOSN17), but enough for you to focus and figure out all of its offerings. After a few more sips, the flavor really comes out –...

Nose: A soft sweet nose that reminds me of Wellers.  A slight wood smell you get from the wood in the forest after a good hike – freshness combined with an oakiness and slight earthy undertones. Beyond that, there is a hollowness that gives me the image of an ethereal light – the type that penetrates the leaves and shines a ray in the middle—a slight ebullient feeling.     Palate: A slight soft oakiness on the front in airy sweetness. A very robust rush of flavors with a warming heat that builds and coats your mouth as you go along. As I get into the third and fourth sip, the warmth amplifies as if the sun’s ray is getting a little bit more of me in the process. The finish lingers along the way. When one consumes Japanese influenced whiskey, their spirt’s focus gravitates towards harmony and balance – think of Blanton’s Black, Red, Takara Gold, Four Rose Super Premium, to name a few… This item is no different, immensely balanced that leaves a lingering woody/earthy/s...