Stitzel Weller Blade and Bow Kentucky Bourbon 750ml

There's no age statement on the label; that's intentional. The lore of this liquid is that it includes a small amount of the last bourbon ever produced at the iconic Stitzel-Weller distillery, which closed in 1992. (Diageo re-opened it in 2014.) This blend of straight bourbons offers vanilla on nose and palate, leading into almond and a hint of dried apricot. The finish is lively and relatively dry, with grapefruit peel, leather and chamomile tea. Overall, it's a light-handed and pleasing take, regardless of how much (or little) old/rare distillate is actually in the glass.

Score: 93 points -- Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast, 2023