George Dickel Bottled in Bond Review

About – It seems bottled in bond is having a moment right now, and Cascade Hollow Distillery has decided to get it on the trend. If you need a refresher on what bottle in bond is click here. The thing that sets this release apart from the competition in the segment is the incredible age statement (13 Years) and possibly even more incredible price (I paid 31.99 in TN, but it seems to be around $36 in the rest of the country. Over the past couple of years George Dickel has been working hard on marketing redesigning the label, changing the name of the distillery, and bringing in new master distiller Nicole Austin. This is the first real release under Austin. George Dickel Bottled in Bond shares the same mashbill as all other Dickel whiskies 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley, is aged 13 years, and is bottled at 100 proof.

Nose – Neat the intial smell is a nutty caramel, overall it is fairly nut forward with marzapan and peanut shells as well. As you dig in you get some toffee. This has the smell of a quality well aged whisky. On the rocks it becomes a sugar bomb full of butterscotch and honey with just a hint of sawdust.

Palate – Neat it is far brighter than I expected with an interesting fruit in the apricot realm accompanied by cinnamon, baking spices, not as much oak as expected from the age. On the rocks there is an initial sweetness, but then you are smacked in the face with oak that lingers well into the finish.

Finish – Medium long finish with oak fading into a dark honey sweetness.

Score – A

Verdict – To put it simply Nicole Austin has hit a home run with this release. George Dickel Bottled in Bond elevates everything I love about the brand, and does it at a very affordable price point. If this is the future of the brand Dickel has a very bright future.