We almost considered not doing this as a traditional whiskey due to the coffee’s effect. However aside from their clear spirit, this is their main aged bourbon, and their choice of a barrel (much like a sherry cask) will simply be an artifact of our review against them. That review sadly is poor.
We’ve had a few years to reconsider the Wild Turkey brand and if we were willing to try them again (what’s a minor 7 and a half years anyway), and thankfully this smaller batch version aged with mesquite (weird) actually manages to pull off an atually good whiskey this time.
We genuinely feel the need to apologize folks. We knew getting into a 2 month or so whiskey bender that there would be a few stinkers, but if the last weeks have been bad – there’s no salvation here. This however goes out of it’s way beyond just being mediocre or overpriced to tasting downright awful.
Back in my day you only called yourself a bourbon if you came from the right county in Kentucky. It was like our own American champagne or cognac, and while biased – better than the both of those. In fairness there isn’t anything in Vermont aside from trees, and while their hicks might be different than southern hicks – they’re hicks all the same.
If you’ve ever been curious about ‘what if Jim Bean made a 50 dollar whiskey’? Look no further. Then turn back, and run. Run far away. This whiskey is meant for a whiskey sour as it’s got some teeth, but if you are looking for a sipping whiskey, something higher-tier maybe you add a bit of ice? NOPE.
Always a good sign when the cost of the bourbon is under $10 and the website doesn’t actually exist on it’s own. (I’m only kidding Ezra Brooks you’re not that bad come back). For those of you gamers out there we release this ‘Ten High” bourbon at Noon (we always have) so this a perfect whiskey for Overwatch. Provided you give it to the other team to make them lose and so you don’t hear the coughing.
Unlike Dimple Pinch, I actually knew a piece of popular culture that this whiskey is used in, notably John Wick. Now John Wick is an amazing movie for many reasons, but after a very hard day, John relaxed with this whiskey to dull his pain on recommendation by Winston. The whiskey itself is actually quite good, and it’s easy to see why it was chosen for a piece of prop design.
Much like Old Grand Dad – this is another bargain, decanter filler, cheap bourbon meant to throw into your cocktails when you’re looking to make use of the ethanol instead of the aromatic artisanal mint you’ve been saving. It’s 100 proof so it’s running hot, and maybe a little too much considering how downright awful the aftertaste is.
As we know at Honest Booze Reviews the cardinal sin is to outright lie, or to in some way deceive. This is why we hate it when a smell gives us such hope for a taste that is lacking. It’s why when a vodka claims to be ‘elegantly smooth’ but burns like acid that we feel cheated. We understand why it happens, because for a lot of people their booze buying comes into either A. Go with what you know from some friend/family. B. Be adventurous and try something random/on sale. Often in those cases the decision to try something new can come down to things like what it says on the back, the overall look, and things like years.
Alright time get into some good ol’ fashioned bourbon. This week we get something from Jesse James? Okay much like Tenacious D’s famous song this is actually just a tribute. As far as tributes go though this isn’t too bad.
