Pursuit Spirits Barrel Proof Bourbon American Bourbon Whiskey

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Freya Lindqvist — 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.

Tomas Rivera — 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.

Omar Diallo — 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.

Rafael Santos — 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.

Isla McCallister — 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.

Alex Ramos — Good but pricey for what it is

7/10

Look, it's a nice bourbon. Lots of corn sweetness, some pepper, toasted nuts on the finish. But at a hundred quid I'm comparing it to stuff like Rare Breed and ECBP, and I'm not sure it stands out enough. With water it smooths out into a pleasant vanilla-forward dram. I'd buy it once but probably not twice.

Marianne Blom — Good but pricey for what it is

7/10

Look, it's a nice bourbon. Lots of corn sweetness, some pepper, toasted nuts on the finish. But at a hundred quid I'm comparing it to stuff like Rare Breed and ECBP, and I'm not sure it stands out enough. With water it smooths out into a pleasant vanilla-forward dram. I'd buy it once but probably not twice.

Connor McBride — Good but pricey for what it is

7/10

Look, it's a nice bourbon. Lots of corn sweetness, some pepper, toasted nuts on the finish. But at a hundred quid I'm comparing it to stuff like Rare Breed and ECBP, and I'm not sure it stands out enough. With water it smooths out into a pleasant vanilla-forward dram. I'd buy it once but probably not twice.

Petra Novak — Barrel proof done right

9/10

I'm a sucker for cask strength bourbons and this delivers. Thick and chewy with burnt caramel, dark chocolate, and black pepper up front. The oak influence is pronounced but balanced — you can tell there's some age on this even without a statement. Added a single ice cube and got waves of butterscotch. Really impressed.

Sophie Brennan — Barrel proof done right

9/10

I'm a sucker for cask strength bourbons and this delivers. Thick and chewy with burnt caramel, dark chocolate, and black pepper up front. The oak influence is pronounced but balanced — you can tell there's some age on this even without a statement. Added a single ice cube and got waves of butterscotch. Really impressed.