A little background

Bib & Tucker 10-Year Bourbon is distilled twice in Tennessee before being aged for ten years in oak casks with a No. 1 char. This non-chill filtered 10 Year Small Batch joins the other two Bib & Tucker releases, the 6 Year Small Batch and the 12 Year Single Barrel Select. Bib & Tucker 10 Year Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is bottled at 92 proof and has a retail price of $85.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Chestnut

Nose

Citrus, oak, and vanilla are prominent on the nose. A little corn rises to the nose deep in the glass, but it takes a moment to develop.

Palate

Touches down with a gentle lemon zest note, and it mellows quickly to some basic caramel on the mid-palate. The palate is a little thicker, with flavors that seem to bounce around the mouth rather than move slowly.

Finish

A little bit of oak returns on the nose, with a touch of pepper on the mid-palate. The finish is short and the citrus note from the nose returns toward the end.

In closing

Overall, I found this to be a decisively average pour. The decision to use No. 1 char barrels is interesting, as it leaves remarkably little oak influence, even after ten years, but that strategy assumes the base spirit is likable. The nose, palate, and finish are relatively consistent, resulting in a pour that lacks complexity. The citrus and vanilla on the nose make for an approachable whiskey, although at $85 this certainly feels like plain TN whiskey dressed up in a fancy bottle, and that alone is not enough to sell me on this whiskey.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Bib & Tucker. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.