Vanilla | Caramel cream | White peppercorn | Gentle oak | Faint brown sugar | Yellow cake | Light table syrup | Touch of dried cherry

Green peppercorn | Youthful oak | Vanilla | Rye spice | Cinnamon stick | Light dried tobacco leaf | Slightly astringent

Rye spice | Vanilla cream | Black peppercorn | Chewy oak | Lingering peppery oak

Located in Aspen, Colorado, Lock + Co. Distilling was founded by lifelong friends Rick Talley and Owen Locke. With Locke’s family experience as moonshiners and the pair’s time at Beam Suntory, they decided to go it on their own and began distilling in a 23 gallon still in 2010. Like the company’s Aspen Aged Rye, their Big Blaze Bourbon is finished with aspen discs. Specifically for this release, the company states they used hand-cut aspen discs that were “harvested from private landowners’ property in Grand County that was affected by the East Troublesome Fire that ravaged Grand County in 2020.“

Big Blaze Bourbon starts off with an expressive aroma that focuses on a combination of mostly sweet scents along with pleasing gentle oak. It’s an inviting way to kick things off, but the bourbon gives drinkers a 180 as the sip moves to its midpoint. Green peppercorn, youthful oak, and rye spice charge ahead, dropping the sweetness the nose alluded to. It’s a slightly astringent delivery that leads to a finish focused on spice and black peppercorn along with a dollop of chewy oak.

The addition of aspen discs impacted by the East Troublesome Fire helps pull out more defined flavors, but not to the extent that consumers may be expecting. Instead, the overall sip is good but more subdued, particularly on the palate. Overall, Locke + Co. Big Blaze Bourbon is priced at the high end for the sip it delivers, but there’s no denying that the experience it does deliver is an enjoyable pour that most will enjoy.