Johnny Drum 15 Years Old Private Stock 101 Proof 50.5% NV

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (80)

Colour: amber. Nose: oh, it’s one of these bourbons that smell like molasses-based rums. Nothing wrong here, quite the opposite. Perfect oak, very strong but very elegant as well (no wham-bam vanilla), a little coffee , muscovado sugar, touches of sultanas, fudge, chocolate… All that is very elegant, I insist. A great surprise so far, let’s only hope that the palate will stand the course this time… Mouth: well, it sort of does. It’s not any more complex than the 12 but the extra-punch keeps it afloat while the notes of black olives and thick caramel make it rather interesting. It’s also a little varnishy and bitter. With water: hmm… not bad, not bad. Some mineral notes, quite unexpected. Apple pie as well, some cinnamon… Finish: long and sweet, with an obvious tannicity. Comments: an interesting bourbon, certainly less ‘modern’ than many well-known brands.