Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

Van Winkle makes wheat formula bourbons. Van Winkle's youngest bourbons are 10 yr olds at 107 and 90 proof. This review is of the 90 proof version. For a review of the 107 proof version see my review Old Rip High Test.

Nose: pleasant wheat grain, slightly sweet, a little oak

Taste: Subdued wheat flavour, which fortunately does increase after a few seconds in the mouth. The oak flavours are probably a little stronger here than are the grain flavours. Alcohol is noticeable here, even at 90 proof. Some caramel does develop after 15 seconds in the mouth, as is the case with the 107 proof version.

Finish: moderate to long finish, with simmering caramel sweetness.

Balance: this is a pleasant relatively light bourbon. The fierce flavour punch of the 107 proof version is gone here. This is the weakest flavour profile, by far, of all of the Van Winkle product line. This is sweet and light, with only some wood flavours giving any edge at all. Even though this is wheat mashbill rather than rye mashbill, this is a very similar type of creature to Ancient Age Bourbon, which is also relatively light and sweet, particularly in the 40% ABV expression.

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