Leopold Brother 8 Year Bourbon

Leopold Brothers 8 Year Bourbon is a Colorado-made straight-style bourbon bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof), with an eight-year age statement on the label. That proof sits a notch above the usual 40–45% bottlings, so it holds its flavor when water, ice or mixers are added. The reference material points to the distillery's three-chamber still, a traditional method, as the source of a layered profile. No official tasting notes came with the product, so what follows describes what bourbons of this age and strength usually show. Expect caramel and vanilla from charred new oak, baked-grain sweetness, some toasted wood and baking spice, and a warm, lingering finish. Pour it neat first, ideally in a Glencairn glass. The tapered bowl gathers the aromas, and at 100 proof the nose rewards a few slow passes before the first sip. Add a few drops of water, no more than a teaspoon, to loosen the alcohol and bring out the sweeter, fruitier notes. If you'd rather sip it cold, use a single large cube in a rocks glass. A big cube melts slowly, so the pour chills without turning thin. Small cubes dilute faster and flatten the oak and spice. The proof and age make it a good bourbon for cocktails that need a spirit that won't disappear. In an Old Fashioned, a sugar cube, two dashes of Angostura bitters and an orange peel let the oak and caramel show. A Manhattan with sweet vermouth and a cherry gives a rounder, deeper drink than a lower-proof bourbon would. In a Whiskey Sour, with fresh lemon juice and a little simple syrup, the 50% strength keeps the whiskey from being buried by the citrus. For a long drink, a Highball of one part bourbon to three parts chilled soda over ice, with a lemon twist, keeps the grain and vanilla front and center. Because it's bold enough to stand up to food, it also works alongside grilled or smoked meats, aged cheddar, or dark chocolate. Serve it in a rocks glass with any of those.