Caramel | Plum | Raisin | Cherry | Cocoa | Apricot | Orange zest

Rye spice | Citrus | Plum | Raisin | Caramel | Graham cracker | Red grape | Rich flavors | Medium body

Wave of rye spice | Dark fruits | Plum | Tobacco | Milk chocolate | Medium length

World Whiskey Society continues to expand their Doc Holliday lineup with the latest limited edition 10 year old bourbon bottled at 96 proof. The release is featured in a collector’s edition package complete with a faux revolver with a handle that doubles as a cork stopper, a decanter-worthy bottle suited for indefinite use, and a premium box the size of a small suitcase. The distillery source is not officially disclosed, but given that World Whiskey Society sources other whiskeys such as Doc Holliday Bottled in Bond from Scissortail Distillery, located in Moore, Oklahoma, it is the most likely contender.

Some will balk at the sheer audacity of the packaging - its extravagance is well beyond the established norm. Depending on who you ask, it spans a wide range from gaudy to cool, but no one will disagree with the fact that it certainly grabs your attention.

The obvious question comes next: How is the whiskey? The answer: Exactly what works for a release like this one.

The modest proof point works. The unique flavor profile works. The bourbon’s overall drinkability works. The 10 year age statement works.

Overall, this is a relatively complex whiskey that doesn’t push boundaries too far but maintains general likeability while still pushing just far enough outside the established norm. The bourbon doesn’t fit the standard “Kentucky straight bourbon” flavor profile, and that’s a plus. Distilled somewhere in Oklahoma - maybe Scissortail, maybe not - doesn’t really matter. It’s an unfamiliar source to most people either way.

The bourbon has a distinctive vein of plum and raisin that weaves its way throughout the sip, with accents of chocolate and a surprisingly wide spectrum of fruit notes. It’s grounded by familiar flavors of caramel and rye spice. Hints of graham cracker and tobacco emerge as well, which I always enjoy in a bourbon and tend to be flavors that resonate with bourbon drinkers.

The packaging is over the top, but it’s well made and overall good quality. And of course the price is high…but is it worth it? At $249, yes, it is absolutely a high price, and yes, you can easily find bourbons of similar quality for a fraction of the cost. So it is not worth the price based on the bourbon alone.

But this bottle is clearly not intended to be an everyday buy or pour, and it is clearly not intended to be about the bourbon alone. With limited releases commanding a similar price in today’s market, this bourbon does have something different to say just like any other limited release, and in this case it’s all about the presentation. It’s an easy win as a gift for the bourbon drinker in your life who might get excited for this kind of thing and is the very definition of “what you see is what you get” when it comes to a bourbon purchase. The truth is, if you’re buying this, you’re in it for the packaging first and foremost, so you’ll know whether or not it’s money well spent going into it. The added bonus is that the whiskey inside is actually pretty good, so it won’t be a disappointment when you open it.