" Appearance: The Bluegill Creek Batch appears dark red-amber in the glass. As can be expected, the high proof and lack of filtering leads to the dark color, even for a six-year-old whiskey. Since alcohol evaporates in air, legs on a whiskey are always a balance between water content and barrel impurities (the color and flavor the barrel imparts on the whiskey) on one end, and the alcohol content on the other end. In the case at hand, Booker’s is very high proof and unfiltered, which leads to thick legs.

Nose: Strong notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and honey lead off the aroma. A return visit to the glass reveals a caramelized sugar undertone. Adding a few drops of water (my preferred method for Booker’s) discernibly changes the nose. Instead of the cinnamon, a light herbal note joins the vanilla and honey.

Palate: Toffee and vanilla can be found on the front, along with what I often describe as toasted hazelnut. Light pepper, citrus, and floral notes follow, but vanilla remains the driving flavor. The finish is a touch dry and moderate in duration with strong oak notes. With a few drops of water, the slightly bitter notes of hazelnut are really toned down, and the sweeter notes include caramel through the front and mid-palate. The duration of the finish is slightly shorter with a few drops of water added, but the flavor is mostly unchanged." ~ Distillery notes