Cinnamon bundt cake | Caramel | Slight toffee | Moderate oak | Tea leaf | Pleasant

Nougat | Building cinnamon spice | Vanilla | Pink peppercorn | Loads of warming spice

Dry oak | Leather | Dry cinnamon stick | Lingering spice

Blue Run Ember Bourbon is the latest limited expression from Blue Run Spirits. Shaylyn Gammon, Head of Whiskey Development & Innovation for Blue Run Spirits, states that “Ember is the perfect flavor profile to complement the cooler temperatures of winter. When crafting this batch, I was inspired by the contrast of hot and cold, and purposefully selected three unique barrels of high proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon to achieve a nuanced, 128.8 proof blend that amplifies the char and wood spice notes without the heat.” Of note, the company released no information on the age, the mashbill, or even where the whiskey was sourced from. Instead, the only information provided on the back of the bottle is the text, “Hand bottled by Blue Run Spirits, Inc in Bardstown, Kentucky.”

Blue Run Ember may be wholly lacking in background information, however, the sip it provides is undoubtedly solid. It starts with a pleasing aroma consisting of sweet scents of cinnamon bundt cake, caramel, and toffee before more grounding oak and tea leaf appear. The midpoint brings about loads of warming spice, with cinnamon spice being dominant and propped up by slightly sweet nougat and vanilla notes. Wrapping up with dryer notes that leave a lingering spice in their wake, the finish may be the weakest part of the sip, but that’s only in contrast to the well-rounded nose and palate. While I think Blue Run Spirits owes consumers more information when charging $100+ for a sourced bourbon, there is no denying that Blue Run Ember Bourbon accomplishes its goal of providing a well-rounded bourbon to enjoy on a cold winter night.