Had a few mates over. After a few beers, said, hey, wanna try my bourbon? Sure says they. First dram was straight out of the jug, six months on oak, 60%. Gag, spew says they. But wait, will water it down a bit. Yum says they, and commenced to down large quantities.
I over oaked it originally. Too much. (It was several gens in a large batch by the end.) Then pulled a lot of oak out of it, so it is on modest oak now. I let it run a bit into tails, intentionally. To me, it smells a bit of tails, but may be a bit too much oak. Am I mistaking oak for tails?
But gotta say, watered down to 45%, yummy. In a bourbon and coke, as good as any I have ever had.
What should I be expecting now? I am not keen on the smell at 60%, but geez is it drinkably nice at 40%. And in cola, it is already a champ.
Bit concerned by the smell. Gonna keep giving it a bit of air. What are long term prospects?