Smoke Wagon Private Barrel Bourbon Whiskey 39-151

This rich, high-proof bourbon shines when sipped neat or with a single large ice cube to gently open up its complex flavors. While it's bold enough to stand up in spirit-forward cocktails, Smoke Wagon Private Barrel truly excels as an after-dinner sipper on cool autumn evenings, perfectly complementing hearty dishes like grilled steaks or smoky barbecue.

Nose: Rich caramel and vanilla lead the way, followed by warm oak and a hint of cinnamon spice. Ripe cherries and dried apricots add fruity complexity, while a subtle nuttiness reminiscent of toasted pecans rounds out the aroma.

Palate: Bold and full-bodied, with an initial burst of sweet corn and brown sugar. Layers of dark chocolate, tobacco leaf, and leather unfold, balanced by notes of baked apple and orange zest. A peppery rye spice builds, complemented by hints of clove and nutmeg.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering flavors of caramelized oak, dark honey, and dried fruits. A pleasant tannic dryness develops, accompanied by a subtle smokiness and a final touch of black pepper that slowly fades, leaving a satisfying warmth in the chest.

Smoke Wagon Private Barrel Bourbon is crafted using a high-rye mash bill and aged for 7 years in new, charred American oak barrels. This particular expression, Barrel #39-151, is bottled at barrel strength without chill filtration, allowing the full flavor profile and natural oils to shine through in the final product.

• Smoke Wagon Private Barrel 39-151 is one of the first bourbons ever produced in Las Vegas, breaking the city's long-standing spirits drought and adding "craft distilling" to its list of vices.
• The founders of Smoke Wagon, Jonathan Hensleigh and Aaron Chepnik, started their boozy journey by opening a bar called The Griffin in downtown Las Vegas before venturing into distilling—talk about learning the business from both sides of the bar!
• The wax seal on Smoke Wagon bottles features two crossed "smoke wagons"—Old West slang for 1873 Colt revolvers—over the state of Nevada, cleverly tying together the spirit's name, its Western heritage, and its home state in one eye-catching emblem.