Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof - ASCOT’s Bourbon of the Year

Smokeye Hill | Aged 5+ years | 131.2 proof

Nose: Immediate notes of vanilla extract, buttered popcorn, and heavy amount of black pepper on the back end of the nose.

Palate: Standard bourbon notes of oak, molasses and tobacco. Then a sudden burst of leather settled by vanilla extract. Its important to note that i am being very specific about vanilla extract because it is a very concentrated vanilla flavor.  From time to time I do get notes of grain that reminds me that this is not an old whiskey.

Finish: the finish is all-encompassing and reaches every part of the mouth and stays warm for a while. I get a toasted oak and a rich brown sugar/tobacco finish.

Conclusion: Is this a Stagg killer? Maybe in a decade. This whiskey is a great alternative to Stagg. This may even beat the 2023 GTS in a blind. But to say this is a bourbon of the year candidate with several much older options available is a stretch for me. This bourbon gives glimpses of its youth at times with hints of corn, but also has some characteristics of a much older whiskey. At $85, this is a great buy… i highly recommend it. But don’t put it on a pedestal…. Yet. I cant wait to have this bourbon at a 12-15 year age statement.

Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Bourbon