I am not sure if this happens to anyone else, but on a rare occasion, I have been known to purchase a bottle, place it on my shelf, and completely forget about it. Now this has only ever happened twice before, but today’s bottle is now the third time. Typically, I open a bottle immediately after purchase, but in this case, it was not all that bad, as it turned out to be a great surprise and almost like a present. From the Nevada H&C Distilling, today’s review is of Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered Straight Bourbon, Batch 75.

From the Nevada H&C Distilling website: We took the same vintage blending philosophy that we used to create Small Batch, except this time the goal was to create high proof bourbon that tasted its best neat. Uncut is so rich and sweet with an unbelievably thick mouth feel, the heat and rye spice finish are a welcome addition. It’s like milk with cookies! Blending vintages of our high rye mash bill to achieve this flavor profile at 115-116 plus proof was a very rewarding challenge for us. There is a delicate balance between creamy mouthfeel, tannins and sugars that comes into play that makes the end result magical.

Smoke Wagon bourbon and rye bottles have become quite easily found in NoCo now, and are seen on all the shelves of the stores I visit. Honestly, I was a bit timid when buying this bottle for two main reasons. First, reviews fluctuate on this bottle dramatically depending on the batch, and two, I found this particular bottle in a small shop that I was a bit worried about when it came to proper storage. Nonetheless, I went for the purchase and was not disappointed.

Overall, the finish on the bottle has been one of my favorites to date with an amazing lingering sweet rye flavor. Delicious rye notes mixed with tons of fruit, I would recommend you must try this bourbon at the bar as much as you want, but still, caution purchasing a bottle if high prices and a chance at a wonky batch is not your gamble. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Rye Spice, Orange, Cinnamon, and Chocolate Covered Marshmallows
• Palate: Fruit Forward (Orange and Raspberry) Vanilla, Rye Spice, Bitter Dark Chocolate, Buttery, and Marshmallows
• Finish: Long Colorado Winters Hug with Notes of Sweet Rye Spice and Oak
• 2023 MSRP: $65
• 2023 National Average: $145
• Proof: 115.12
• My Rating: Drink It! (I look forward to trying additional batches)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman