Our second batch of K&L Liquors is here and WOW it's so special I can't even believe it. I will always refer to this label as the "Every Drop," but this batch is called "Dawning Era," in reference to the new phase in our relationship with Kentucky bourbon - buying, blending, and bottling our own juice. This batch was much more nerve-wracking and complex than the previous batch. It consists of 3 different lots of this famous liquid distilled contractually in Frankfort, Kentucky, and aged near Lawrenceburg for over 16 years. While the tendency in the industry is to not want to waste any of this wildly rare juice, I insisted on tasting every barrel in advance of blending. Having an idea of the volumes—which were, incidentally, ridiculously low—I made a proportional blend of the various casks to mimic the final blend using barrel samples. But one sample stuck out like a sore thumb, changing the sweet red fruit-forward old bourbon into a wood-driven monolith. When we removed that barrel—its total volume fewer than 19 liters, so just a few drops in my desk blend—the package came together perfectly. Another barrel, which was so unique and delicious and yielded only 23 liters, seemed to add none of its unique exotic character, so that was held back as well. The resulting bourbon is delicious beyond my wildest expectations. I'll attempt to do it justice based on my blending sample, but be aware that marrying will augment the final product in some yet-to-be-determined ways. Ultimately, this remains one of the very best values on the market today, and I believe it is even superior to our 15-year-old batch #1. Here it is. The color is dang dark—old oak (1.8). We've got a huge nose of cherry jam, dark chocolate, coconut oil, sweet stewed peaches, clove honey, sandalwood, and cedar oil. The palate is ultra-rich and oily, with the red fruit and chocolate sticking up front and a rich vanilla and sweet roasted pear-covered baking spices covering the mid-palate. The finish is long and round, not offering the dusty tannins that the 15-year did, giving this a very open and inviting feel. It really is the total package in my opinion. I honestly feel a bit silly selling this at $250 a bottle considering what MSRP is for other older bourbons these days, and I'm certain we'll be raising the price considerably once it lands, but this will STILL be one of the best old bourbons your money can buy—even at twice the price.