Neeley’s Family Distillery “Autumn Vanilla"

Neeley’s Family Distillery “Autumn Vanilla"

Kentucky Bourbon, Barrel #B0059

Char #3, 30 Gal. Barrels using A-1 Yeast,

Triple pot still, NCF, and Sweet Mash

Mashbill: 76% Corn, 19% Wheat, 5% Malt

22 M, 50.7%/101.4 Proof

Eye: Honey, slightly hazy, thick rims and thick droplet legs.

Nose: Sweet but not syrupy. Rye-forward, butterscotch, almost rye though there isn’t any in the mashbill. Sweet meat smoke develops.

Palate: Mulling spices, tons of herbs. Drinks much older and again like a rye despite its absence. Spice coats and toasts the whole mouth, followed by vanilla extract. Lingering oak and vanilla. Mouthfeel is smooth, buttery, and coating. Minty rye sticks around - I really can’t believe there’s no rye in this.

Finish: Chocolate comes out of nowhere to dominate the finish.

Overall: Wheaters usually give me much more of a chocolate and orange zest profile, so except for the chocolate in the finish this is wayyyyy off profile for me. It also drinks more like a rye even though there isn’t any in the mashbill. Maybe my sample got tainted? Who knows, unusual for sure though.

Rating: 5.9

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)

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