Pursuit Spirits Barrel Proof Bourbon American Bourbon Whiskey

Finn OBrien — Decent but needs water

7/10

Straight out of the bottle the alcohol dominates a bit too much for my taste. Once you tame it with water though, there's a lovely bourbon underneath — cornbread, vanilla, a touch of dried apricot. The finish is medium with a pleasant spicy kick. It's good, just not sure it justifies the price tag over some easier-drinking options.

Sibel Nur — Decent but needs water

7/10

Straight out of the bottle the alcohol dominates a bit too much for my taste. Once you tame it with water though, there's a lovely bourbon underneath — cornbread, vanilla, a touch of dried apricot. The finish is medium with a pleasant spicy kick. It's good, just not sure it justifies the price tag over some easier-drinking options.

Daniel Oyama — Decent but needs water

7/10

Straight out of the bottle the alcohol dominates a bit too much for my taste. Once you tame it with water though, there's a lovely bourbon underneath — cornbread, vanilla, a touch of dried apricot. The finish is medium with a pleasant spicy kick. It's good, just not sure it justifies the price tag over some easier-drinking options.

Mia Sundberg — Decent but needs water

7/10

Straight out of the bottle the alcohol dominates a bit too much for my taste. Once you tame it with water though, there's a lovely bourbon underneath — cornbread, vanilla, a touch of dried apricot. The finish is medium with a pleasant spicy kick. It's good, just not sure it justifies the price tag over some easier-drinking options.

Herbert Muller — Decent but needs water

7/10

Straight out of the bottle the alcohol dominates a bit too much for my taste. Once you tame it with water though, there's a lovely bourbon underneath — cornbread, vanilla, a touch of dried apricot. The finish is medium with a pleasant spicy kick. It's good, just not sure it justifies the price tag over some easier-drinking options.

Luciano Bianchi — This one punches hard

9/10

At nearly 60% ABV this is not messing around. Big caramel and oak on the nose, then a wave of brown sugar and baking spice that just keeps going. I add a few drops of water and it opens up beautifully with vanilla and dried cherry. One of the better barrel proof bourbons I've had this year.

Kofi Asante — This one punches hard

9/10

At nearly 60% ABV this is not messing around. Big caramel and oak on the nose, then a wave of brown sugar and baking spice that just keeps going. I add a few drops of water and it opens up beautifully with vanilla and dried cherry. One of the better barrel proof bourbons I've had this year.

Tariq Hassan — This one punches hard

9/10

At nearly 60% ABV this is not messing around. Big caramel and oak on the nose, then a wave of brown sugar and baking spice that just keeps going. I add a few drops of water and it opens up beautifully with vanilla and dried cherry. One of the better barrel proof bourbons I've had this year.

Natalie Ford — Solid barrel proof sipper

8/10

Poured this neat and got hit with rich toffee, charred oak, and a hint of leather. The heat is there at 59.9% but it's not unpleasant — warms the chest in a good way. Finish lingers with cinnamon and dark fruit. Does what a barrel proof bourbon should do.

Elena Morozova — Solid barrel proof sipper

8/10

Poured this neat and got hit with rich toffee, charred oak, and a hint of leather. The heat is there at 59.9% but it's not unpleasant — warms the chest in a good way. Finish lingers with cinnamon and dark fruit. Does what a barrel proof bourbon should do.

Ingrid Holm — Solid barrel proof sipper

8/10

Poured this neat and got hit with rich toffee, charred oak, and a hint of leather. The heat is there at 59.9% but it's not unpleasant — warms the chest in a good way. Finish lingers with cinnamon and dark fruit. Does what a barrel proof bourbon should do.

Jorge Castillo — This one punches hard

9/10

At nearly 60% ABV this is not messing around. Big caramel and oak on the nose, then a wave of brown sugar and baking spice that just keeps going. I add a few drops of water and it opens up beautifully with vanilla and dried cherry. One of the better barrel proof bourbons I've had this year.

Dmitri Volkov — This one punches hard

9/10

At nearly 60% ABV this is not messing around. Big caramel and oak on the nose, then a wave of brown sugar and baking spice that just keeps going. I add a few drops of water and it opens up beautifully with vanilla and dried cherry. One of the better barrel proof bourbons I've had this year.

Astrid Nilsen — Solid barrel proof sipper

8/10

Poured this neat and got hit with rich toffee, charred oak, and a hint of leather. The heat is there at 59.9% but it's not unpleasant — warms the chest in a good way. Finish lingers with cinnamon and dark fruit. Does what a barrel proof bourbon should do.

Nia Okafor — Solid barrel proof sipper

8/10

Poured this neat and got hit with rich toffee, charred oak, and a hint of leather. The heat is there at 59.9% but it's not unpleasant — warms the chest in a good way. Finish lingers with cinnamon and dark fruit. Does what a barrel proof bourbon should do.

Kenji Watanabe — Sharing this one with mates

8/10

Brought this to a tasting night with four friends and it was the favourite of the evening. Everyone picked up something different — I got maple syrup and toasted coconut, my mate swore he tasted cherry cola. At 59.9% it sparked some great conversation about how much water to add. Bottle didn't last long, which says it all really.

Amira Benali — Sharing this one with mates

8/10

Brought this to a tasting night with four friends and it was the favourite of the evening. Everyone picked up something different — I got maple syrup and toasted coconut, my mate swore he tasted cherry cola. At 59.9% it sparked some great conversation about how much water to add. Bottle didn't last long, which says it all really.

Derek Chang — Sharing this one with mates

8/10

Brought this to a tasting night with four friends and it was the favourite of the evening. Everyone picked up something different — I got maple syrup and toasted coconut, my mate swore he tasted cherry cola. At 59.9% it sparked some great conversation about how much water to add. Bottle didn't last long, which says it all really.

Marco Andretti — Perfect cold weather pour

8/10

Been working through this bottle over the last few weeks and it's a cracker on a cold night. The nose is all dark honey, roasted pecans, and a bit of pipe tobacco. At barrel proof the flavours are concentrated and intense without being harsh. I drink it neat in a Glencairn and just let it breathe for ten minutes.

Jake Morrison — Perfect cold weather pour

8/10

Been working through this bottle over the last few weeks and it's a cracker on a cold night. The nose is all dark honey, roasted pecans, and a bit of pipe tobacco. At barrel proof the flavours are concentrated and intense without being harsh. I drink it neat in a Glencairn and just let it breathe for ten minutes.