Bhakta 2013 Bourbon Review
100 Proof, 9 year 5 month old MGP juice, 2 months after that in Armagnac casks that previously held blends of Armagnac that date from 1868 to 1970. You gotta admit, that's pretty cool.
99% corn mash bill, tasted neat.
$150
Color - Medium to dark amber
Nose - Caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, oak, an extremely welcoming bouquet. This is what you would expect and want a great bourbon to smell like. The sweetness of the corn comes through. A few more passes and you get a whisper of cinnamon and apple (if you have ever sliced up an apple and sprinkled some cinnamon powder on it, you'll know what I mean). Airing it out and swirling a little more brings about a bit of orange.Palate - Butterscotch, vanilla, a bit of spice and the proof shows up, but it is not an aggressive heat at all. A touch of cinnamon red hots, I feel like it might be softening up a little as it is sitting in the bottle half empty, I might move it to a smaller vessel (but keep and repurpose that botte, it's such a lovely bottle!). A bit of dessert-y kind of note, maple? Not sure, but I am enjoying it (again).
Finish - Medium, the spice lingers on your tongue a little bit.
Rating - This is case worthy. I would love to, and most likely will, have a back-up bottle (or two) of this. It's well made, it is a crowd pleaser and can be enjoyed neat, with a dash of water or with a large ice cube. It is in the sweet spot of ABV for me and while it is pricey, I think it is worth it, especially if you are looking for a little bit of a celebratory pour. Taking this bottle out of your bar during a party will make you feel a bit like Jay Gatsby. Cheers, old sport!
