We blind taste our last 6 reviews and find out it is way harder than we thought it would be. Especially since we’ve sampled one a month for the last 6 months. We also make it interesting by making a wager and the loser has to jump in the 60 degree pool. Who will it be? Watch the review and find out!
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Who makes it? Whiskey Acres Distilling Company, Seed to Spirit from DeKalb, Illinois
At the first taste straight from the bottle, Kris thought form the first was less sweet than the bourbon with a little more spice, Erik thought it had a clean bite. Dan said he preferred the tingly tongue taste of the bourbon better. Adding the ice made it ridiculously smooth according to Erik and Kris thought it smoothed it out. On a full melt Erik thought it was too watered down and Kris agreed.
Kris gave it a 6.5 and Erik gave it a 6.8
How much: It’ll cost you about $42.99 a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: the mash bill is 75% rye, 25% corn – 87 proof aged in 15 gallon barrels with a #3 char.
A little history. Jim and Jamie Walter plus Nick Nagele who are multi generational farmers who decided to make whiskey, so they did. With 16 different varieties of whiskey corn like Oaxacan green corn, yellow dent, Glass Gem and Bloody Butcher less than 10% of what they grow actually make it into their whiskey. Since they grow all their own grains and take advantage of the limestone aquifer deep under the soil they control from start to finish or what they call Seed to Glass.
Currently it can only be found in Illinois, so if you’re close by or passing through it is definitely worth the stop.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Who makes it? Whiskey Acres Distilling Company, Seed to Spirit from DeKalb, Illinois
At the first taste straight from the bottle, Kris thought form the first sip it went down smooth with a strong finish, Erik thought the same. Dan said “there is no bark on this one at all”. Adding the ice tamed the finish and brought out more of the sweet corn flavor. On a full melt Erik gave it a well done and it is frickin’ good and I’d have to agree.
Kris and Erik decided to lengthen the scales and make it 1 to 10 instead of 1 to 5.
Kris gave it a 7 and Erik gave it a 7.3
How much: It’ll cost you about $44.99 a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: the mash bill is 75% corn, 15% winter wheat, 10% barley – 87 proof aged in 15 gallon barrels with a #3 char.
A little history. Jim(father), Jamie(son) Walter and Nick Nagele are multi generational farmers. Jamie said “Bourbon has to be made out of a minimum of 51% corn; we grow corn here better than almost anywhere else in the world.” So they decided to make bourbon. In order to get started they watched videos, went to classes and then hired none other than Dave Pickerell master distiller to help them learn the process. Unlike most distilleries trying to get on the market they didn’t source whiskey to start instead they started selling unaged corn whiskey and a corn vodka.
Currently it can only be found in Illinois, so if you’re close by or passing through it is definitely worth the stop.
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Who makes it? Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits
At the first taste straight from the bottle to our glasses, Kris thought it was smoother than expected without a harsh finish with a hint of sweet and caramel while Erik was expecting a smoky taste at the first pull but instead tasted oily and vanilla. After the addition of ice Erik liked it better without while Kris didn’t mind and tasted flowers of yore(just kidding) actually sweetened a bit and had a fruity taste. Erik thought the same and said possible apricot or citrus. After a full melt not a whole lot different for Kris and Erik could still taste the oiliness.
Kris and Erik decided to lengthen the scales and make it 1 to 10 instead of 1 to 5.
Kris gave it a 7 and Erik gave it a 6.5
How much: It’ll cost you about 27.99$ a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: the mash bill is 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% barley. MGP(midwest grain products) produced whiskey from Indiana then trucked over to Bardstown, Kentucky for blending and aging.
A little history. Dave Schmier and Michael Kanbar started the company together in 2010. They have a small bottling facility where batch size is usually 10 barrels. The Redemption name was chosen to reflect the idea of Rye re-claiming its status – prior to prohibition when it was the #1 selling type of whiskey. They describe it as a true reflection of America’s native spirit. In 2015 they were acquired by the Deutsch Family.
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Who makes it? Castle Brands
Kris and Erik found that straight for the bottle it had a sweet spicy smell. On the first pull Kris thought it had a nice flavor that wasn’t overpowering without a harsh finish. Erik took in a sweet smell and raisnins. That might of been the mixture of vanilla, butterscothch notes we were supposed to smell. Adding a couple of ice cubes Kris thought it mellowed it out nicely for a relaxing sipping and before you know it it’s gone. In the end Kris really enjoyed Jefferson’s Bourbon and gave it high marks and put it as high as 4 out of 5 while Erik gave it a solid 3.5.
How much: It’ll cost you about 29.99$ a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: Actually four different Kentucky straight bourbon whiskies of different ages and combining them together for a blended bourbon at 80 proof.
A little history. It was started by Trey Zoeller(a native Kentuckian) and his father Chet who is a bourbon historian. How they got the name, they simply had no marketing budget and wanted a memorable name so they picked Jefferson’s and put his image on the bottle. My favorite tidbit is that an 8th generation grandmother was arrested in 1799 for moonshining.
Who makes it? Beam Suntory
Kris found that it had a good bite straight from the bottle while Erik thought it was strong but still had a nice finish. After a couple of ice cubes it had a sweeter smell, a smell of caramel. It didn’t get much better for Kris while Erik enjoyed it a lot more with added ice and a little melt. Overall it was Kris’s least favorite so far while Erik didn’t put it at the top of his list, it wasn’t at the bottom either.
How much: It’ll cost you about 22$ a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: The mash bill consists of red winter wheat(16%), along with corn(70%) and malted barley(14%).
A little history. Maker’s Mark began when Bill Samuels Sr., purchased the “Burks Distillery” in Loretto, Kentucky for $35,000 and in 1954 production began and in 1958 the distinctive red wax seal made it’s appearance and to this day every bottle is hand dipped.
Who makes it? John Jameson and Son Irish Whiskey Company does in their Cork, Middleton distillery whick is southern Ireland.
Erik found it great from the get go while Kris thought it was a little harsher at first and enjoyed it more with a couple of ice cubes. Both of us enjoyed it better with a little ice melt, brought out the caramel flavor and more of a rich flavor than Bushmills
How much: It’ll cost you about 40$ a bottle.
What do you get in the bottle: The mash bill consits of barley, maize and pure Irish water and then aged in double charred barrels to reveal all the hidden flavors.
A little history. John Jameson and his son took ownership of the Bow Street distillery in 1780, formally established in 1810. Jameson is the largest producer of whiskey in Ireland.
Who makes it? The Bushmills Old Distillery Company that is located in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Surprisingly smooth neat, with a little ice it smoothed it out even further. At about 22 bucks a bottle it well worth your hard earned dollars.
It is a triple-distilled malt whiskey with light Irish grain aged at least 5 years in American bourbon and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks.
A little history, in 1608 a license was granted to Sir Thomas Phillips (an Irish adventurer) by King James I to distil whiskey. In 1890, a steamship owned and operated by the distillery, SS Bushmills, made its maiden voyage across the Atlantic to deliver Bushmills to America.
