Day 21 of DB's Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar

Cheers and welcome to our 5th Annual Advent Calendar!

This month, we’re embarking on a high-end bourbon journey, reviewing 25 bourbons from award-winning distilleries across the United States. From December 1st to December 25th, we’ll explore everything from small batches to single barrels, all packed with flavor. Join us in toasting to another incredible year as we share some of our favorite bottles with you!

Our reviews are done using a Glencairn glass and neat, but remember, it’s your bourbon! Enjoy it however you like—over ice, with water, or in a cocktail. The key is to enjoy it your way and not let others influence your experience.

Enough of me rambling. Now, let’s dive into what brought us here!

Day 21 of DB’s Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar

SMOKE WAGON PRIVATE BARREL - SELECTED BY BROWN WATER SELECT

Proof:

118.88 Proof (59.44%)

Distillery:

· Nevada H&C Distillery Co. (Las Vegas, NV)

· Distilled in Indiana

Age Statement:

7 year

Message on the bottle:

Beyond Single Barrel. The contents of this bottle are not just from one barrel, but a barrel that was hand picked for its unique taste characteristics. Once it’s gone, this distinct flavor profile will never be repeated.

Price Point:

At DB’s Bourbon Trail, we use BoozApp (not sponsored) to ensure fair pricing on our bourbon purchases. Nothing is worse than overpaying due to supply and demand games.
- Average MSRP:
  - $99.99
- Fair Price:
  - $152.98
- Shelf Price:
  - $109.06
- DB’s Bourbon Trail Instant Buy Price:
  - <$99.99

Review:

This is an incredible pick from @brownwaterselect on Instagram! If you aren’t already following them and @vabourbonhunter and @whiskeythrottle_bws - make sure you do! They have incredible barrel picks and leaders in the bourbon community. In addition to this Smoke Wagon pick, we will feature a couple of picks from them in this year’s calendar. Check them out to get a sneak peak on the high quality pours to come!

Nose:

The aroma is rich and inviting, with strong notes of red fruits and vanilla. This is paired perfectly with a nice rye spice.

Palate:

This has a great initial rye spice that hits you right away but transitions quickly to a sweeter profile. As it develops, flavors of cinnamon and sweet creamy vanilla makes itself known. As this pour rounds it out, it truly is a great experience and an incredible blend of sweetness and spice.

Finish:

This finish is spicy and satisfying. There are lingering notes of rye, cinnamon, vanilla sweetness and oak that make it hard to crush this bottle all at once.

Final Thoughts:

Smoke Wagon has been one of my favorite distilleries for a bit now. I love that these Private Barrels are hitting the shelves because it provides such a complex flavor profile. This bottle really stood out to me and may be favorite of the calendar. It’s a pour that I hope you all get to savor and enjoy! I thought it was the perfect pour to start your Saturday before Christmas celebrations!

Cheers y’all! 🥃

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