Old Whiskey River | Rating 82
Old Whiskey River presents a lot of expectation. When someone names a bourbon after the song Willie Nelson has played twice every day for 50 years, you can’t help but root for the damn drink to blow your doors off. Upping the ante is the fact that this bourbon has been distilled in Nelson County for eight generations. And it comes with a guitar pick (don’t try to actually use it) with Willie’s signature on it. What is not to like, right? Well, as much as this pains me, I cannot put this at the top of my favorites. I’ll tell you why, friends: 1) first smell heavy oak, which is a good sign; 2) first sip - excellent flavor with a hint of vanilla, not sweet; 3) aftertaste - surprisingly bitter, and not in a good way. Everything about this bourbon is great going down, but the moment when you should be enjoying your recent purchase, you get a shocker. After several tasting sessions, I must settle at a solid rating of 82, mainly for presentation and reverence to the master musician. I may purchase another bottle to try and redeem my hero, but not in the near future. If you find the correct ratio of water (or other mixer) to whiskey, please reply (but remember, the perfect bourbon stands by itself). I leave you with a taster’s quote: “A little citrus. Maybe some strawberry. Mmm. Passion fruit, mmm, and, oh, there’s just like the faintest hint of like, uh, asparagus, and, there’s a, just a flutter of, like a, like a nutty Edam cheese.” (Sideways, 2004). Keep Tasting.
Tags: bourbon review, old whiskey river review, whiskey river
Review by Marcus
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