Bib & Tucker - 6 Year Double Char
$55
Bib & Tucker – 6 Year Double Char
Proof Collection: Batch 01 – Bottle 59347
Proof: 88
Age: 6 Year
Distillery: Bib & Tucker
Type: Double Char Bourbon
Mash: Unsure – Former Mashes Resembled 70% Corn, 26% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Website: Bib & Tucker
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Campfire Smoke with Roasted Marshmallows lead the charge. With a second whiff and a swirl you start to take in spicier notes more common with a Higher Rye bringing Clove, White Pepper and Cinnamon. You can pick up some of that Barrel Char as mentioned in the name of this dram, but it’s not as prominent as I would have expected. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I do get some baseline bourbon Caramel Chew.
Taste/Palate: The presence of Rye in this pour makes the first impression with spicier notes upfront, Cinnamon and Pepper. The dram immediately calms down and shows some deeper notes with Oak & Dark Fruit – Plum with Anise.
Finish: The Finish hails the return of spice with Cinnamon, Pepper, & Clove melded a light Oakey Char. It quickly tails off leaving a somewhat short finish bringing out some milder characteristics in Caramel, Green Apple, Toasted Oak. But wait, did the spice come back again, but this time with the “smoke” I keep hearing about? The question mark here is because out of all the bourbons I have tried I can’t think of a time I’ve had some many up and down layers. It was hard to decipher where the “finish” was.
Verdict: This one was a bit of a roller coaster. It was similar to the bipolar ex-girlfriend that your buddy keeps going back to. When you ask your buddy why, there’s a shrug of the shoulders and a “I dunno” and everyone just seems to understand. All jokes aside this one was spice, then calm, then Spice, then calm, and then spice again. That’s the series… I think. Under most circumstances I would not have cared for that type of variation, but somehow it all seemed to work and overall I enjoyed the pour. I picked this one because I wanted something different and in that regard it delivered. For the MSRP of $55 I wasn’t let down. If I were to take this pour with a meal it would be paired with a nice Medium Rare Filet or Ribeye.
I did expect a little more Char out of this and some deeper notes, but it punched way out of it’s weight class for a 88 proofer. If this was a blind I would have guessed this one was closer to a 100 proof and not due to heat.
MSRP: $55
The Story: After taking a “life break” from posting here we are. I was a little tired of the standard Bourbon profile with “easy sipper” qualities and this one called out to me. 6 year minimum age and it was barreled a second time with Heavy Char characteristics. This to me seemed to be beyond a run-of-the-mill pour with some weight and meat behind it. That drew me to this bottle and our resurgence to reviewing again.
The Distillery’s Story:
Rumors:
I was not able to confirm through research where Bib & Tucker is actually distilled. My research hinted based on educated guesses that Bib & Tucker is sourced somewhere in TN and follows the Tennessee standard of filtering through Sugar Maple Charcoal before going into the barrel. Rumor has it that it is sourced from Dickel, which wouldn’t surprise anyone in the least, if confirmed to be true.
From the Distillery:
“Our name, bottle, and small batch approach were inspired by the turn of the century in America. A time of unprecedented progress and adventure when all bourbon was small batch. Cities grew, skyscrapers went up, railroad tracks went down and new inventions changed the way people got together and celebrated.”
“It was a time where great accomplishments were celebrated with small batch bourbon. From East Coast tycoons to West Coast cowboys, the time was taken to break out our best and raise our glass. Inspired by that time, we created award-winning small batch bourbon worthy of your finest moments. Bold and refined, Bib & Tucker is the perfect companion on your life’s grand adventure.”
Specific to Double Char: “Inspired by the turn of the century, when food was cooked on the open flame, this new small batch bourbon is aged twice to create savory smoky notes and an exceptionally smooth finish. Bib & Tucker Double Char is first aged for six years in the rolling hills of Tennessee in new white American oak, followed by a minimum of five months in a second heavily charred and smoked new barrel. This unique fire-forged double char aging method creates the rich and deep flavor of Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon.”
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Average. Not bad, but not special.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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