Chestnut | Caramel | Brown sugar | Baking spices | Toffee | Nutmeg

Rye spice | Black peppercorn | Cinnamon spice | Charred oak | Traditional

Charred oak | Rye spice | Light leather | Cinnamon bundt cake | Light lingering heat & oak

The king of decanter-style bottles, World Whiskey Society, is back with another, this time featuring a 9 year old Kentucky-sourced bourbon. Fans of traditional-style bourbons will find a lot to love here, as there aren’t any unusual flavors pushing for attention.

The aroma kicks off with a prominent note of chestnut upfront and gradually transitions to a blend of baking spices, brown sugar, and light toffee. The palate begins with rye spice immediately and slowly pulls it back to reveal black pepper, cinnamon spice, and charred oak. Not to be outdone, more spice is layered in during the bourbon’s finish, with charred oak up front, followed by a stream of rye spice. Light leather and cinnamon bundt cake follow.

Fans of oak and spice will find a lot to love with World Whiskey Society Reserve Collection 9 Year Bourbon. It doesn’t try to do anything fancy, except for the bottle it comes in. Its age is evident throughout, which keeps the sip grounded and traditional. It’s a solid sipper, but its price definitely reflects the decanter bottle it comes in, more so than the whiskey itself

The bourbon in review is from batch #3.