Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
7 Years Aged, Small Batch
45% ABV
$30
Color: golden orange
Smell: nothing huge jumping out aside from a little heat. There is a faint herbal/lemon thing going on for me in the background. I suppose a little funky graininess like oatmeal, but it's pretty subtle.
Taste: pretty neutral at first sip, little bit of heat coming in to play mid-palate, and then the finish is actually quite bourbony for me. Some sweet vanilla and oak, but mixed with earl grey tea - this is present during swallowing, and lingers for a short period afterwards. Pretty soft on the palate overall, and a nice creamy quality to the experience.Overall: this is unique and quite good. The nose is pretty straightforward and decidedly not bourbon - herbaceousness and lemon dominate. The oak comes in mid-palate, but the finish isn't all oak or sweetness - it's more like lightly sweetened earl grey tea with a Melba toast round dunked in. The criticism I have is the lack of punchiness - it's smooth and soft, but it's not complex. Worth trying, and definitely great for someone who prefers smooth or tuned-down whiskies.
What others have said:
Jason Pyle at Sour Mash Manifesto rated it 8.7/10:
"Overall: Bourbon lovers expecting to drink a rich, sweet, intense whiskey need to pause for a moment. This certainly has some bourbon-like qualities, as it should with a significant portion of corn in the grain recipe. However this is much more elegant, refined, and subtle. The flavors are light and fruity, and the sweetness is present without overdoing it. For Scotch Lovers that feel bourbon is “too sweet” or for those Bourbon Lovers looking for a nice, easy sipping change up – this is a great one. There is something for everyone here – it’s inviting, well made, and I look forward to another glass."
Bill at Modern Thirst rated it 87/100, and reviewed the standard small batch version against a single barrel selection. Well worth a read.
Josh Peters at The Whiskey Jug rated it an 81/100:
"NOSE
Caramel, citrus (pineapple) and a wheat driven sweetness lead to a bit of dark fruit, butterscotch and mint. Some light notes of wood move about with some grain, wheat toast and a light bit of cinnamon. Nice for what it is, but not deeply complex.PALATE
The caramel gets a bit syrupy on the nose and picks up bits of grain, vanilla and citrus peel. The wheat toast and cinnamon from the nose come back, but on the whole it’s a bit less complex than the nose.
FINISH
Wheat toast, caramel, vanilla, wood and raw grains on a medium fade.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
It has a nice balance between everything and a thin watery body that burns more than it should.
OVERALL
When I took my first sniff I immediately thought of Rebel Yell, same with the first sip. All around it has a bourbon character to it, but it’s not a nice rich bourbon character, more like a weak and watery one… like Rebel Yell. Nothing wrong with it, just really light, but interesting stuff nonetheless. Just not one I’m clambering to have on a daily basis."
