Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
18 years for a bourbon is a long time in the aging world hoping that quality will remain consistent and the whiskey in bottle is not over oaked. If anyone potentially can release a product such as this that is high quality, the distilling team at Tennessee’s George Dickel, led by General Manager and Distiller Nicole Austin, certainly can make a case.
Cascade Hollow Distilling Co., home of the Dickel brand, is one of two legacy Tennessee whiskey brands known far and wide today. Since coming under Austin’s leadership a few years back, products coming from here have generally been higher quality at lower prices. While the Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years I’m reviewing today is pricey, it certainly holds a lot of potential to match quality with cost.
What you have with this Tennessee bourbon is an American whiskey that aged close to two decades in charred oak barrels quietly resting in Dickel’s single-story rickhouses in the hills of Cascade Hollow near Tullahoma, Tennessee. In keeping with the design plan for the original Dickel Bourbon released in 2021, this 18 year expression is geared more truly towards bourbon lovers by showcasing tasting notes more traditional to that whiskey style and less so in regards to typical Tennessee Whiskey tasting characteristics found in the rest of the George Dickel offerings.
“We created Dickel Bourbon to give people an approachable and balanced bourbon that is high-quality and complex in flavor,” noted Austin at the time of its release. “I loved the idea of building upon that craftsmanship of our mature whisky and creating something with that same traditional feel, and also more premium. I’m excited for people to try Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years because it’s a rare and beautifully aged whisky, but still exhibits a surprising brightness and wide range of complexity that is not often found in American Whiskies of this age.”
A highly limited, small batch bourbon, Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years is bottled at 90 proof, having been distilled from a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley. It is priced at $510.
Tasting Notes: Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years
Vital Stats: Tennessee bourbon aged 18 years; mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley; bottled at 90 proof; priced at $510/700 ml bottle.
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Appearance: Very lovely orange-amber color in glass with this one. Wonderful legs and viscosity clinging inside offer a hint of what might come.
Nose: Bourbon perfume – vanilla, some oak, apricot, a touch of orange and dark chocolate.
Palate: Simply gorgeous and well balanced. Creme brulee, butterscotch, apricot, vanilla, orange and a hint of chocolate. Oak is just barely there. Finish is short and a bit sharp, but has a pleasant, slightly sweet note as it fades.
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