Rowan's Creek 12 Year Small Batch Bourbon, Charred Oak Cask, 2005, 50%

At 50% ABV, this has a substantial bottling strength on paper, though that alone doesn’t say how heat would register. The caramel and vanilla on the nose connect neatly with the palate’s pepper, oak, molasses, and chocolate. A long, dry, spicy, woody finish keeps the sweetness from feeling one-note, while the lightly lemony close adds a lift. This reads as a confidently structured, sweet-leaning bourbon, though the dry oak may not suit every preference.

Reviewed by cloudberry compass

Nose

Caramel, Vanilla, Pear, Lemon, Honey, Floral notes

Palate

Velvety and sweet, Caramel, Pepper, Oak, Molasses, Chocolate

Finish

Long, Dry, Spicy, Woody, Lightly lemony