Though I am quite a fan, I only discovered this limited edition bottling from Heaven’s Door Bourbon – a brand co-created and endorsed by Bob Dylan – by happenstance. When I checked the manifold offerings at the Schlumberger booth at this year’s Hanse Spirit, my glimpse fell on three most beautiful eye-catchers neatly lined up in a row. These were Heaven’s Door’s barrels #213, #214, and #215 released exclusively within the “German Selection by Schlumberger”. As per recommendation of the nice gentleman behind the counter, I went for #214 which he described as the smoothest and most savory member of the trio. One sip in, I knew exactly what he meant! The cask strength American whiskey presented itself lively, strong, and flavor-rich. Yet, it also was perfectly leveled and, overall, incredibly well-crafted. While savoring the spirit, I did not encounter too many of the “love it or hate it” notes like modeling mass, liquid adhesive, or pickled cucumber. Instead, the dominating sensations were coconut, chocolate, cereals, and bright fruits; with further smells and flavors bolstering up the mix to be even more complex! As soon as I had emptied my glass, I secured replenishment in the form of a full bottle. As you can see from the pictures, it did not stay closed for too long (after all, Hanse Spirit only took place 5-or-so weeks ago). And the fill level has also already diminished noticeably. What can I say? I am totally enjoying the heck outta this drop – and it just keeps getting better and better with every additional sip I take!

by Tobi

Eye: Shiny red-ish brown.
Nose: The whiskey’s nose is strong, full, good, and complex. First, it builds a substantial base of coconut, caramel, honey, cocoa powder, and leather polish. Then, it places brighter and more exotic scents on top: apple peel, peach rings, and even kaki bites. Last but not least, the bouquet also gets enriched with juicy orange halves, fresh wood shavings, and – far in the back – crushed black pepper corns.
Palate: There is some real depth to the offered flavors; and they are masterfully arranged, too! At first, a rush of meaty fruits and creamy chocolate fills the mouth. One by one, more sensations appear. These include stewed apples, crunchy cereals, caramelized macadamias, and sticky cookie dough. Somewhere in between this mix, there is also a wee bit of modeling clay – however, it is really far in the back and just shimmering through a little.
Finish: Heaven’s Door’s Single Barrel #214 ends with a hard-to-forget encore that is both long-lasting and loud-blasting. It is sweet and creamy and salivating with Bounty bars, caramel pudding, peanut butter, clotted creme, and all sorts of roasted kernel. Towards the end, we also get to taste more of the rye that accounts for 21 per cent of the mash bill; it stimulates the tongues and throat with an invigorating white pepper tickle.

Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Region: United States of America
Age: 7 years old
Alc. volume: 58.15 per cent
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Price: 90.00 Euro
More info: https://www.heavensdoor.com/ (Whiskey) ; https://www.schlumberger.de/ (Importer)

*** I bought the bottle as a regular customer. ***