Side by side : An unusual Bourbon flight

For this side by side I've had a rummage through my sample boxes and come up with 4 bourbons.

They are all a little different - let's see what they are like.

As described in my blog on Different Types of Whisky here Bourbon was be defined as:

"A spirit with a mash bill containing a minimum 51% Corn distilled to no more than 160 proof (80% ABV), put into new charred American white oak for ageing at no more than 125 proof (62.5% ABV)."

So it all tastes the same then? Well no of course it doesn't - flavour is dependant on many things including the cask, the liquid's age, the other 49% of the mash bill, ABV and any finishing.

Each of the bourbons I'm trying here are a little different - let see what they are like.

Dram	Legent Bourbon	Smooth Ambler Big Level - Wheated Bourbon	Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style	[TBWC] Bourbon Whiskey #1 Batch 1 24yo
Characteristics	47% ABV Wine & Sherry Casks	50% ABV	57.5% ABV	48% ABV
Distillery notes	Legent is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey partially finished in wine and sherry casks. But it's more than that. It pushes the boundaries for how bourbons can be created while remaining true to the core of bourbon's principles. It's a collaboration between two whiskey legends – Fred Noe & Shinji Fukuyo – and two unique styles of whiskey making. It starts like a bourbon – rich, warm and oaky. Then, like a Japanese whisky, it features both complex layers of dried fruits and spice.	Big Level Bourbon, bottled at 100 proof, is a wheated bourbon that is mashed, distilled, aged, and bottled by Smooth Ambler at their distillery in West Virginia. A wheated bourbon with a mashbill: 71% Corn, 21% Wheat, 8% Malt.  Tasting Notes: Toffee and pancake batter on the nose, with pleasant warmth - sweet and smooth, with a luxurious vanilla, pancake-batter note in the mid-palate.	The Volstead Act of 1920 (Prohibition) granted permits to 6 distillers in Kentucky to distil bourbon for medicinal purposes.  To pay homage to this era, Old Forester presents 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon. Aroma: An intense medley of cherry preserves, drippy caramel, dark chocolate, thickened maple syrup and seasoned oak spiciness. Taste: Dark caramel coats layers of malt nuttiness and sweet graham cracker all warmed by green peppercorn and coriander spice brightened with a hint of cedar. Finish: Tart apple crispness gives way to a long smoky finish full of toasted marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker sweetness.	Nose: Rich, earthy vanilla pod and coffee bean notes arrive first, supported by vibrant notes of orange oil, brandy-soaked raisins and dark chocolate. Palate: The vanilla notes continue on the palate, now with jammy red berries, maple syrup and freshly made pancakes. Finish: A good kick of baking spices appear on the finish. Still enjoyably buttery.
My thoughts:
Appearance
	Dark gold almost bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.	Dark gold almost bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, take an age to bead up before falling as slow thin oily legs.	Dark gold almost bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, slowly bead up and fall as slow thick legs.	Dark gold almost bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin oily legs.
Nose	Slightly musty to start, berry fruit, damp cardboard and a hint of peppery spice. Honey and brown sugar suggest some sweetness. Fruit and nut milk chocolate and some toasted oak are also here.	Sweeter than the Legent on the nose, typical bourbon honey, toffee and vanilla but with a little digestive biscuit note. There's a strong berries and cherry note with marzipan here too.	Charred oak, toffee and honey to start. There's some almonds, marzipan even and vanilla. Dried fruit and an unusual dried banana note appear after a few swirls.	Caramel, honey, toasted oak and a little nutty milk chocolate to start. There's some vanilla, cinnamon, orange zest and a little salinity. A few swirls reveal maple syrup and dried fruit.
Palate	Smooth sweet arrival, a little thin but immediately turning spicy and coating the tongue. Very dry with dark fruit, cherries and almonds. The honey and brown sugar from the nose is back with some cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper spice. The chocolate has turned dark and there is some sherry notes - nice!	Thick sweet arrival, toffee, honey and brown sugar to start. There's berries and cherries as per the nose and a dry nuttiness. The moisture is stripped from the mouth after each sip leaving a cinnamon spice on the tongue. This is really nice!	The ABV helps this one deliver a thick arrival, immediately coating the tongue and offering toffee, honey and brown sugar sweetness. Dry almonds and vanilla along with toasted oak let you know you are drinking a bourbon. There are some orchard fruit, orange zest and berry notes here before the spice takes over!	Smooth thick oily slightly sour arrival, immediately mouth coating, some Param violet  rye spice here too. Like the Old Forester this has some citrus notes you don't normally get in a bourbon. The caramel and nuts from the nose are back along with balsamic vinegar drizzled strawberries and some herbal notes.
Finish	Lingering spice, creamy but dry with oak spice and a little berry fruit.	Medium length charred oak, vanilla and shortbread with berries.	Lingering dry oak, cinnamon spice and a little orchard fruit.	Lingering dry spice, old leather, berry fruit and almonds.
Overall	Each of these are a little different from your average bourbon, the Legent has been finished in Wine & Sherry Casks giving berry fruit, sherry and cherry notes. The Big Level is Wheated with 21% wheat in the mash bill, enough to turn this one away from your normal bourbon. Digestive biscuits on the nose and dry spice on the palate came through. The Old Forester ramps up the ABV to 11, at 57.5% much higher than your average bourbon. This ups the spice notes but there's also some lovely orchard fruit and sweet citrus notes you don't normally get in a bourbon. The Boutique-y has been sitting in a cask for 24 years, in fact this release was of over 8,000 50cl bottles - a lots of casks - where did they find them? They won't tell us! At that age you might expect a huge oak influence - liquid wood maybe - but you'd be wrong. This is a lovely sipping bourbon who's age deserves you take time and really get to know it.