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Rating: 80
| Nose |
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| Palate |
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| Finish |
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| Uniqueness |
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| Value |
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Ratings breakdown based on a 100 point scale.
- 90-100 Exceptional
- 80-89 Very Good
- 70-79 Average
- 60-69 Below Average
- 50-60 Drain Pour
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Detailed Tasting Notes
Nose Review - Rating: 83
I was pleasantly surprised with the initial nosing of J.W. Kelly & Co. Old Milford Straight Bourbon Whiskey. You discern only a little ethanol, which does not detract from the pleasant malted cocoa, buttercream, rich caramel, and vanilla aroma combination on the nose. Although the aroma is mild, it has a very welcoming, rich, and creamy density. I love that there are no harsh qualities in this nosing experience. A gentle undercurrent of ethanol is always present but not distracting. The deeper you get into the tasting experience, the more the mild white pepper spice emerges. Still, those buttery caramel and chocolate notes are the theme.
Palate Review - Rating: 80
The palate took me by surprise. While the flavor profile reflects the nose, the flavor is more intense than anticipated. Also, more of an aged oak flavor was mixed in with the cocoa, buttercream, toasted custard, and vanilla palate. J.W. Kelly & Co. Old Milford Straight Bourbon also had a spicier pepper kick than expected at a 94-proof point. This bourbon is also surprisingly oily, a quality I look for in good whiskeys but an attribute that is often difficult to find. J.W. Kelly & Co. states this bourbon blends five, six, and eight-year-old bourbons. J.W. Kelly & Co. Old Milford Straight Bourbon has qualities I associate more with the eight-year-plus range. Later in the tasting, spice kicks up slightly but is nicely balanced with sweet salted caramel and cocoa.
I like my lower-proof bourbons to be a little bolder. At 94 proof, J.W. Kelly & Co. Old Milford Straight Bourbon drinks more like a whiskey 10 proof points higher; which, for me and my palate, is wonderful.
Finish Review - Rating: 77
On the finish, some dryer, nuttier tobacco notes kick in. However, some of the sweetness remains.
Uniqueness Review - Rating: 78
From a uniqueness standpoint, all of the notes in J.W. Kelly & Co. Old Milford Straight Bourbon are traditional bourbon notes but with a layer of malted chocolate.
Value Review - Rating: 83
J.W. Kelly & Co. provided this sample; if the bottles are remotely close to the sample, this is an excellent value at $39.99.
After my review, I went online to see what others said about this bourbon, and most of those reviews did not reflect my experience with this sample.
J.W. Kelly & Co. Old Milford Straight Bourbon is a good whiskey at this price point.
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Smell IS taste. I am just a guy who has been hit with the bourbon bug and who has come to the conclusion that life is too short to drink average tasting bourbons. Go Gators!
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