Smoke Wagon Desert Jewel

BourbonReviewsAmerican WhiskeySmoke WagonMGP

Nov 12

Written By David Levine

Smoke Wagon Desert Jewel

MGP Distilled, Bottled by H+C Distilling Co.

10 YO, 52% ABV/104 Proof

Eye: Liquid amber. Medium rims and syrupy legs.

Nose: Vanilla and cherries, a good body for the nose. Leaning towards the sweet side. Some mulling spices in the background. Caramel brings up the rear. Candied red fruit and dark red fruit emerge. Robitussin.

Palate: Tons of cherry syrup, maraschino, like a straight up cherry-forward Old Fashioned. Vanilla and sugar, very sweet, verging on cough syrup. Hints of orange zest with brown or muscovado sugar. Mouthfeel is full at first then tightens up. Coating, just slightly hot.

Finish: Again a cherry-forward Old Fashioned, maybe made with rye. Long - just keeps going.

Overall: Might be a bit too sweet for my taste, especially being so cherry-centered, but I’d be happy to drink this again.

Rating: 6.9

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)