The palate opens with oak and fleeting cherry sweetness. Adding water brings more vanilla and cookie dough forward. The finish sizzles with clove and nutmeg.
On the lean side, and like most such bourbons, the finish lingers, and flares at each swallow: oak, cinnamon, and that same mineral note. Not bad, but it needs more.
The problem is that Paddleford just doesn’t meet the level of consistency and basic quality you could get in a bottle of either of those. It seems to be a pretty good economical mixer, but that’s about all it’s good for. And if that’s all I’m getting in a whiskey, then I’m reaching for something less expensive to fill my glass.
