Belle Meade Cask Strength Madeira Finish (Plumpjack’s Store Pick)

Belle Meade Cask Strength Madeira Finish (Plumpjack’s Store Pick)

MGP-Sourced, ~9 YO

56.35% ABV/112.7 Proof

Eye: Copper, no rims, droplets all over the glass.

Nose: Very fruity, wine tartness and sweetness. Raisins and other dried fruits. No burn. The bourbon under the sweetness smells of corn and caramel. 

Palate: Also sweet, but the proof is perfectly calibrated to handle the dried fruit sweetness studded with cinnamon, star anise, and clove. Tons of dates and dried fig. Mouthfeel is fantastic, sticks to the whole mouth. 

Finish: Finish is long, lots of dark fruit like diving into a spiced fig newton. Slightly chocolatey and even little chalky.

Overall: This is a perfect proof point all around - it carries and enhances the flavors while controlling the sweetness from the Madeira. A great pick. 

Rating: 7.1

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)