Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested about 10 minutes.
Distillery: Early Times Distilling Company (Brown-Foreman)/Bottled at Barton 1792.
Proof: 100.
Age: At least 4 years.
Mash bill: 79% Corn/ 11% Rye/ 10% Malted Barley.
Price: I paid $29.91 (1L).
Appearance: Copper.
Nose
The first thing I pick up is a lot is sweet caramel candy and toffee with some vanilla. Followed by a fruity combination of cherry, peaches, strawberry, banana, and orange peel. There’s also an herbal sage note with some pecan nuttiness and a good dose of allspice, with layer of oak and barrel char underneath that creates a hint of chocolate. This nose is a whole lot sweeter and fruitier than I expected.
Palate
With a medium mouthfeel, the nose is similar to the palate with sweet caramel, vanilla, cherry, peaches and noticeably more banana. Mid sip comes sage, pecan and orange peel with a very balanced rise of allspice. The oak is pleasant but what I’m missing is that bit of barrel char and hint of chocolate I was getting from the nose. While less complex than the nose, this flavor profile still delivers an enjoyable fruit forward sip along with pleasant caramel and spice.
Finish
Allspice lingers on the palate with stone fruit, sage, vanilla and pecans. Subtle oak and tannins of tobacco emerge for a medium finish.
Conclusion
I anticipated Early Times Bottled in Bond to be a good bang for the buck and in that aspect, it has delivered. Though in that blind taste battle I watched, I’m not sure how it won over some of the much more expensive Bottled in Bond bottles it was up against. But everyone has their own tastes and that’s one of the fun things about whiskey. I was surprised just how sweet and fruit forward Early Times BiB is. For better or worse, this bourbon distinguishes itself from others in its class that have a more traditional Kentucky bourbon profile. I can see how Early Times Bottled in Bond and for instance, Wild Turkey 101 could both be at home depending on what you’re in the mood for.
In these times of rising prices on everything, it’s good to see a bourbon like Early Times Bottled in Bond still in stores for under $30. It’s great for making cocktails or a neat easy drinking sipper. I can see why in its heyday it was known as “Americas largest selling Kentucky bourbon”
Rating: 5.6/10.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.
