Elmer T. Lee Commemorative Edition Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

Tonight I'm pouring something so many go crazy for: Elmer T Lee. But, this isn't any normal Elmer T Lee, this is the special Commemorative Edition!

You may wonder if this is just a fancy bottle, or if there is truly something special about the Commemorative Edition. This is 93°, whereas the standard expression is 90°. Both are Single Barrel Bourbons.

ETL is made from Buffalo Trace Mashbill #2, which is the higher Rye recipe. Other labels born from this mash are Blanton's, Rock Hill Farms, Ancient Age and Hancock's Reserve. I'm a big fan of Blanton's and Rock Hill Farms. I've never had the other two.

Mashbill isn't everything, it is merely the beginning. Other factors are the barrel itself, aging, and even where in the rickhouse the barrel rests. Single Barrel differs from barrel to barrel. Small Batch gives more consistency.

Elmer T Lee is one of those high-demand, hard to find whiskeys. You're lucky to see it in the wild.

When poured into a glass, the color is a beautiful gold amber. Swirl it around, and it leaves long, inviting legs. My nose picks up caramel, vanilla, toffee and butterscotch. In fact, the butterscotch can best be described as heavy.

When I bring the glass to my lips and inhale, I'm bringing in that vanilla and butterscotch. That makes my mouth water. Once it hits my tongue and palate, there is honey, light fruit and oak. It would have been great to have that butterscotch, but, alas, it was not meant to be. The finish is light, warm and smooth, with a bit of spice at the end that lingers a bit.

I don't understand the huge appeal of ETL. When I mention this, people look at me like I am nuts. This is not a bad whiskey. In fact, it is a decent pour. What I am saying is there is no "wow" factor for me, nothing that would cause me to hit every liquor store possible to locate a bottle. If I had $37 burning a hole in my pocket, I could find several other comparable or even superior Bourbons. $35 - $40 is a great sweet spot for Bourbon.