A few weeks ago, Sally Van Winkle Campbell came by with some friends for drinks on the porch. She gifted me this bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old Bourbon. I have reviewed this whiskey some years ago, but Matt had not tasted it with me, so I thought I would review this more recent bottle today. Matt and I tasted it and here are our tasting notes.
Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old Bourbon
Proof: 107
Age: Ten Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel, apples, pepper spice and oak wood.
- Matt: Caramel, brown sugar, chocolate and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel, apples, black pepper and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the apple and black pepper are enhanced. Tasted with a pecan and the oak wood is enhanced and chocolate notes come forward.
- Matt: Caramel, peanut butter, chocolate fudge and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out notes of a latte coffee. The pecan brought out notes of orange zest and lots of chocolate.
Finish:
- Mike: Long with oak and pepper spice. The dried cranberry made the finish very long with oak, pepper and lingering apple sweetness. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak and pepper.
- Matt: Medium long with oak and peanuts. The dried cranberry made it long with oak and peanut brittle. The pecan made the finish very long with oak and chocolate.
I would pair this Bourbon with one of my favorite cigars – My Father The Judge. I think the vanilla and chocolate notes of the smoke would pair well with the caramel of the Bourbon.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller