Dixon Dedman, of Kentucky Owl fame, has launched a new brand; 2XO Whiskey. 2XO, which stands for Two Times Oak, is a newcomer to the game, but like most brands that come from a successful Whiskey maker, it’s already seeing fairly widespread success.

From their website: “2XO is a unique blending process where Dixon re-barrels his hand-selected whiskey into new charred oak barrels to create a unique combination of intense flavors, character, and complexity. Each blend is limited, one-of-a-kind and has its own story.”

Dedman has released two SKU’s to date: The Phoenix Blend, and The Innkeeper’s Blend. Recently he was in Los Angeles for a tasting with some members of the local Spirits media. Unfortunately, I was in San Diego during his visit, but thankfully I was able to connect with his PR agency and they were gracious enough to send me a sample of both releases.

One bit of housekeeping before we move on: I received this sample compliments of Dixon, 2XO, and his PR agency in exchange for my honest feedback and review. While life would be much easier if I was on the take like a dirty cop, I’m not, and all my reviews are honest. The presence or absence of a media sample never affects the outcome. That said, I need a drink…

“The Innkeeper’s Blend is the second small batch blend in the brand’s Icon Series. The Innkeeper’s Blend pays homage to the Dedman family’s century-plus history in the hospitality industry, as previous owners of the famed Beaumont Inn on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail” reads an excerpt from their website describing the Innkeeper’s Blend which is just hitting shelves.

As The Phoenix Blend is essentially sold out, I will only be reviewing The Innkeeper’s.

Appearance: In glass this is a deep caramel with orange hues.

Nose: This opens with subtle notes of grape, and a blend of paprika, clove, and garlic powder. There is an overarching oak note, as is to be expected for a whiskey called “Two Times Oak”, which runs parallel to a sweet after dinner pillow mint.

Palate: The palate opens with the taste of sweet oaked water, followed by notes of black pepper, and a mild buffalo wing sauce. There’s a wonderful toasted oak note that starts on the mid palate and stays through the finish in addition to some notes of vanilla. The back palate has notes of cherry cola, as well as a vanilla custard that is a hybrid between a Boston Creme donut and crème bruûlée custard.

For 104 proof, this is dangerously easy to sip on.