John J. Bowman Single Barrel

I just picked up an 11.5 year pick of this- have loved every one I’ve had before.

Big fan of JJB single barrel's - I'm in VA, so I almost always have a bottle on hand

Great pour, especially for $50-60. Very close to EHT SiB without the rarity and price. Will always have one on my shelf.

This is my desert island whiskey. Good age, proof, and never get tired of it.

Conclusion: To me, this somewhat splits the difference between EHT Small Batch and Single Barrel. Lots of those same caramel notes you normally get from EHT, but the green apple reminded me more of the common Blanton’s apple note, though I have had other picks where the classic BT grape was present instead. It’s not super complex, but a fun easy sipper. I imagine as Buffalo Trace has expanded, so has Bowman’s supply, so we may see more of these start to pop up. Rating: 7.5 - Great | Well above average. Would I go back and buy it again? Yes Would I buy a pour at a bar? Yes

Parent context: I must be crazy. My bottle honestly tastes like a shelfer - good but unremarkable and a little pricey. Maybe I just got a bad one? Reply: With Single Barrels anything is possible. Mine is like EHT flavours turned up to 11

The bottle i have opened of this right now is seriously like drinking those candy green apple suckers with a caramel drizzle on top. It’s seriously that good, with all the flavors being super bold!

I personally thought my bottle of JJB kicked the crap outta EHT when I did a side by side

Totally agree! I would hands down take this over Blanton’s. Have done them in a blind with friends, Bowman was the unanimous choice.

Nose: If this isn’t sourced from BT, then I’m a sucker. It’s all the familiar (and very distinct) grape & cherry I get from the standard offering from BT. It has a really nice oak presence and overall very nice. ... Taste / Finish: This is where this sets itself apart from other similar priced bottles for me. It’s got a nice weight to it, would be surprised if it’s anything less than eight years old.