Whiskey Review: Old Hickory White Label

Lacking in the vanilla promised on by the nose. Subtly sweet but indistinct. Reminiscent of flat soda. Finish: Equally brief and empty as the palate. Conclusion: Vanilla gets a bad rap when it comes to describing character. Often synonymous with “boring” and “bland,” in reality, vanilla can be the lush, complex canvas upon which all other flavors can be amplified. Vanilla is exactly what greeted me when nosing Old Hickory in a Glencairn glass. However, in the glass is where the vanilla remained. There was a distinct lack of flavor when sipping this whiskey straight. There was nothing off or offensive about the palate whatsoever. The problem is there wasn’t much of anything at all. When expectations are not high to begin with, it becomes almost an accomplishment to underwhelm. This is where Old Hickory defines itself for me. It is a one trick pony that won’t take me where I want to go, as it never truly shows up at all. The angular, square bottle is all that saves this blended bourbon from falling off the table completely. While the literal vanilla flavor was expected, the pejorative use of the term is more appropriate in this case. Score: 68/100