What You Need to Know
Proof and Wood: The Presidential Dram Two Term Barrel Proof Bourbon
- Type: Bourbon
- Mashbill: 99% corn/1 % malted barley
- Proof / ABV: 131.18
- Age Statement / Range: 8 year
- MSRP: $149.99
- Availability: Limited
- Purchase here
Review Summary – Our Take, Straight Up
Rich, savory, traditional 8 year bourbon with a profile that sips far lower than its 131 proof
Tasting Notes
This 8-year bourbon leans heavy on oak in a delightful way, keeping to a traditional tobacco, oak, and leather profile that’s easy to sip, but with a higher-proof texture and lingering finish. The oak here isn’t overwhelming. It’s a theme that other, more savory flavors shoot off from. The spirit leans dry in terms of sweetness, but not tannic on the palate. I’d describe it as intriguing.
Aroma: 8/10
Rich with baking spices and seasoned oak, with light char, candied bacon, and toasted nut, all with a line of caramel pinned underneath.
Flavor: 9/10
Toasted wood, light vanilla and caramel, savory notes leading towards leather, tobacco and earth.
Texture: 7/10
Slightly dry, but with a measured viscosity. It doesn’t drink like 131 proof, but there’s a nice proof burn for those who love higher ABV. Creamy, but not overly viscous.
Finish: 9/10
There’s a nice consistency to the flavor and finish combination here. Together, they keep the bourbon’s impression on the palate drier and more savory-leaning. It has a classic, lengthy finish, with traditional bourbon flavors at the end, plus tobacco and perfumed cherry.
Unique or True to Style?
True to style – a high proof single barrel bourbon that sits squarely in the bourbon camp. It amps up complexity with the proof and savory/dry flavor profile, but stays consistent across aroma/flavor/finish to create a solid luxury pour.
Best For / Skip If
- Best For: High-proof sippers who love a savory, balanced pour that sips warm but not hot. This pour will resonate with bourbon lovers who want an integrated, complex sip where structure, flavor, and finish are cohesive.
- Skip If: You love sweet bourbons with a short or medium finish. This pour will likely read too dry and oaky for you, and the proof could light up your palate in an unpleasant way.
Our Recommendations
- Suggested glassware: Glencairn, a few drops of water once you’ve enjoyed it neat
- Atmosphere: Makes me think of sitting in a leather chair in a quiet bar having a meaningful conversation at the end of a long week.
- Suggested food pairings: Two ways to go – pair with a handmade salted caramel to bolster sweetness, or head to the savory side with an aged gouda or a peppery salami slice
- Would I pour it for my peer: Yes
- Would I pour this for my bestie: He prefers lower proof, so I might proof it down a bit and make sure I had a caramel on hand as a pairing to soften the heat
The Last Sip (Closing Notes)
92
A solid, classic bourbon that ticks the hazmat box but sips closer to 110 or so, I’m enjoying the cohesiveness between the nose, flavor, and finish. While the nose is lighter than the flavor and finish, it’s not incongruent, and it makes for a perfect pour for someone who enjoys a well-built, traditional bourbon. It’s a pour you end your night on, one that reminds you of the solid foundation of the bourbon category and the beauty of a well-picked single barrel.
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