This is one where the aroma changes radically with the addition of some water. It just really opens up to reveal butterscotch, and more fruit (particularly cherry) and vanilla than on first passing. Would highly recommend you try with and without to see for yourself. Also, the spices and the oak in the bourbon pair better with the sweet notes when water is added to make a more enjoyable experience. Then going back to the nose you’ll find some lovely herbal notes. Overall a solid dram.

In 1837, a young man from Ireland known for his remarkable whiskey-making skills, came to America with his family’s whiskey recipe that had been passed down for generations. Young Mr. McKenna settled in Kentucky and discovered the uniquely American drink known as Bourbon. McKenna instantly took a liking to Kentucky whiskey and set out to create a better Bourbon using his family’s recipe. To ensure the highest quality, he insisted that his Bourbon age in oak barrels before bottling. From this process, highly unusual for the time, emerged a remarkably smooth Bourbon boasting a distinctive character. As one of the only extra-aged Bottled-in-Bond Single Barrel Bourbons, Henry McKenna Single Barrel satisfies those looking for a real whiskey with real history. The super-premium status is conveyed through new packaging. The front label contains handwritten authentication of the barrel number and the barreled on date. It also emphasizes the Bottled-In-Bond designation and the 10 year age statement.