Old Whiskey River | Rating 77

Old Whiskey River presents a lot of expectation. When someone names a
bourbon after the song Willie Nelson has played twice every day for 50
years, you can't help but root for the damn drink to blow your doors
off. Upping the ante is the fact that this bourbon has been distilled in
Nelson County for eight generations. And it comes with a guitar pick
(don't try to actually use it) with Willie's signature on it. What is
not to like, right? Well, as much as this pains me, I cannot put this at
the top of my favorites. I'll tell you why, friends: 1) first smell -
heavy oak, which is a good sign; 2) first sip - excellent flavor with a
hint of vanilla, not sweet; 3) aftertaste - surprisingly bitter, and not
in a good way. Everything about this bourbon is great going down, but
the moment when you should be enjoying your recent purchase, you get a
shocker. After several tasting sessions, I must settle at a solid rating
of 82, mainly for presentation and reverence to the master musician. I
may purchase another bottle to try and redeem my hero, but not in the
near future. If you find the correct ratio of water (or other mixer) to
whiskey, please reply (but remember, the perfect bourbon stands by
itself). I leave you with a taster's quote: "A little citrus. Maybe some
strawberry. Mmm. Passion fruit, mmm, and, oh, there's just like the
faintest soupçon of like, uh, asparagus, and, there's a, just a flutter
of, like a, like a nutty Edam cheese." (Sideways, 2004). Keep Tasting.

--Marc