Doc Swinson’s 15 YO Bourbon

Doc Swinson’s 15 YO Bourbon

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Sourced and Bottled in WA

59.1% ABV/118.2 Proof

Eye: Dark liquid gold, thin rims and slow bleed legs. 

Nose: Sweet, corny bourbon goodness. A little heat that adds to the nose tremendously well. Some stone or red fruit sweetness, too. Really like this nose. Charred corn comes with some air as do roasted nuts.

Palate: Hot at first and coats the entire mouth. Lots of roasted peanuts and skins, reminiscent of older Beam stocks. Heat and sweet are both on display playing off each other. Mouthfeel is coating, oily, and a little tingly.

Finish: Finish opens up the nuttiness with dried fruit building in the background. 

Overall: A complex pour that evolves throughout the tasting. The heat is a touch too strong for too long - if it were a little less in the finish this would be much more balanced. Palate and nose are great, though.

Rating: 7.3

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)

More Bourbon Reviews