Hot off of Kentucky Owl, Dixon Dedman has reconstitued his whiskey career into “2xO” or Two Times Oak, the first in a collection of small batch “blends” focusing on straight Kentucky Bourbon. Each of the new blends will be named and a one off for now, with this first one called “The Phoenix Blend” Punched up Kentucky nose of vanilla bean, toffee, and caramel syrup on ice cream. Bolder red fruit with oak emerging mid-palate. The Phoenix is a combo mid-rye and high-rye bourbons. The finishing in secondary NEW oak provides a dusting of baking spice and a pleasant woodsiness enhanced by the 104 proof bottling. Lots of character in this first go around and worth a shot to see what the still realtively young blender comes up with next.