Review #761 - The Reveries Raven (Batch 3)
In 2025, we saw the release of several more batches of Raven from The Reveries, the NDP started by Jay West (T8ke). Here we have Batch 3, which carries an age statement of 9 years, but it's comprised of the following components:
41% of the blend is 9+ year old Indiana bourbon
48% of the blend is 10 year old Kentucky bourbon
11% of the blend is 14 year old Kentucky bourbon
This blend of bourbons is presented at barrel strength: 62.4% ABV (124.8 proof) in this case, and it isn't chill filtered, so we should be getting plenty of flavor and good texture.
The Reveries Raven (Batch 3)
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 140 (2025)
Age Statement: 9 Years
Strength: 62.4% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered; batch 3, bottled 2025; 588 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 2 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Dark intense oak - leathery, tobacco, and some cola. Baking notes and spices like anise, vanilla, and caramel arrive; it leans dry overall, though, and we get more barbecued oak and wood char. Soft rye spice and a hint of perfume in the oak show up later, as well as a hint of cherry.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thick, full of smoky oak, peppery wood, quite leathery and drying. Light brown sugar and baking spices of cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon combine with almonds, molasses, and a bit of orange peel. Hints of tobacco build later on.
Finish: Tons of leathery, smoky oak, as well as some hay, hints of grain, and almond. Creamy vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, and anise bring back a baking side; we also get bready flavors and Demerara sugar. It's quite warming, and it has a medium length or so.
Final Note: This bourbon from The Reveries has quite a strong oak influence, which brings notes like leather, tobacco, and cola. There's a decent amount of baking spice as well, and we enjoyed the hints of fruit, though they mostly disappeared after the nose. Good texture, a nice warm finish - this is a great bourbon.
Value is just about average - you get a lot of good flavor here, but it also comes at a cost. We think these Reveries releases are worth buying in general, especially if you enjoy bourbons with a strong oaky backbone.
Our Rating: 7.8 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.97
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other reviews of The Reveries:
