Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey Aged 6 Years
Since yesterday we did a “newer” big-distillery bourbon release, today we will do a newer small “distillery” bourbon release. I had read some good things on Bib & Tucker’s 6 year old small batch bourbon so I figured I would pick up a bottle and give it a go. I don’t know much about Bib & Tucker but they seem to want to be a “brand” as opposed to a distillery. With a lot of the smaller start-up distilleries, they source product while they build up their own stocks. However, the Bib & Tucker website doesn’t mention a distillery at all so they may just be sourcing whiskey with the expectation to always do so. I’m not opposed to this, I have had some very nice whiskeys from folks who source their bottles (Barrell Bourbon, Stellum, High West come to mind). Also, this is “distilled in TN” but it’s being marketed as a bourbon and not a Tennessee Whiskey, interesting. The internet seems to think it’s Dickel, but there’s no confirmation to that. Let’s see how this one is.
Batch No. 24, Bottle No. 2037
ABV: 46%
How it smells….sweet, oak, vanilla, a little bit of rubbing alcohol
How it tastes.…can a sip really not have a start? I mean, there’s liquid in my mouth but I’m not getting something immediately. Maybe some sweetness? The sip starts in earnest in the middle with cinnamon and vanilla and ends with cocoa malty notes. The finish is quick with a bit of peppery spice on the linger.
Price..$50
Rating….🥃🥃🥃
Final thoughts….This is…fine. It is exceptionally smooth though. If there’s one thing you can say about this 6 year old, it is smoooooth. But on the other hand, while smooth is great, you want something to have character too, and I find this to just be….fine. It’s just unremarkable. The most remarkable thing is how smooth it is for a 92 proof (46% ABV) bourbon. 92 isn’t super strong, but it’s a respectable proof and this thing sips more like an 80 proof (40% ABV) bourbon. It is highly crushable which is why I’m keeping it at 3x 🥃 and the price is, like the bourbon.…fine.
The bottle itself is pretty cool looking and my first impression was that while the cork wine topper looked great, it was a bit of a pain in the ass to open at the start. Then, as I went back for another tasting (or two) the cork topper grew on me. I kind of felt like a pirate opening the bottle and may have opened it directly with my teeth once to completely drive the experience home.
Personally, purchasing this once is enough for me but if you have to buy a gift for someone who wants to get into bourbon and to try some non-mainstream releases, this is a great gateway drug. Plus, it’s a great looking bottle. However, for those of you who are experienced bourbon drinkers and want something more challenging, look elsewhere.
