Old Rip Van Winkle 10/107
Added on Friday, Feb 6, 2009 at 08:31 AM
  Bottler: Buffalo Trace
  Age: 10 yrs Type: American
  Vintage: N/A Subtype: Bourbon
  ABV: 53.50 % Region: Kentucky
  Price: $35 Availability: Wide
Member Ratings and Notes
Chris
 
Nose is rich with lots of vanilla and spice.   The high abv masks some of the flavor on the first few sips, but then a full wheaty profile emerges with more vanilla and ample sweetness.   The finish, however becomes dry, woody, and a bit bitter and detracts from the overall experience.   The are other wheated bourbons around this age and price range I'd go to first. 
Tim
 

N: Light wood on top. A little orange. Cherries, a darker fruit note; some caramel. Gets sweeter with more air but has a sharpness that makes it seem a bit thin. A little mint. Slight mothball aroma. 

 

P: A little cinnamon and some heat. Wood, cherry, and apple flavors that lean waxy. Kind of a nonspecific graininess.

 

F: Cinnamon again, warm heat. Woody and generically grainy. Waxy apple notes kick in again. A little mint and menthol on the top end.

 

Not bad. A bit sharp but pretty decent. Continually changing with air; the sharper notes gain prominence. Slight medicinal nature as it evolves which isn't bad.  

 
Sku
 

Nose: Noses as fairly alcoholic but light on aromas with caramel, candy corn.


Palate: Fairly sweet, slightly tannic and a bit harsh. Water brings out some nice woody notes but also some bitterness.

 

Finish: The finish is the best part, with a good balance of sweetness and some woody notes.

 

Overall: Not bad but lacked clear notes on the nose and palate and had some off notes.

 

[2009 Bottling]

 
Dan
 
2013 VW Vertical Tasting: I am just so shocked at how bad this has gotten over the last few years, I don't have much else to put here. Some sugar and alcohol on the nose. Nothing exciting. When I first got into "high-end" whisk(e)y (bourbon especially), this was the first thing I truly loved. So, it really sucks to see this product dip in quality like this. C+/B- [1/26/14] 
Fuji
 
(no notes) 
Whiskey Master List
Whiskey Value and Selling Online FAQ
Contact Rare Liquor Collectors
Popular Articles