I’d like to thank Wenzel Distillery and their PR partner for providing these samples with no strings attached.
Lots to cover tonight, so let’s skip the rambling intro and jump right into the meat of the post. In late September, I was offered the chance to taste three bourbons from Wenzel Distillery in Covington, KY. They are a small producer that started out as a blender but have since bought the assets and stock of Ghost Coast Distillery and are now starting to distill their own product using that equipment. According to the press release, the three above are made from stocks that are about 95% Ghost Coast whiskey, with the remaining 5% being sourced from other distilleries. Their own whiskey is still too young to include.
The Wheated Barrel Proof bourbon is an eight-year-old bourbon that is made from a mash of 65% corn, 12.5% wheat, 12.5% oats, and 10% barley. My sample came in at 110.7 proof, though that will vary. The suggested retail price is $99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Double Oak Barrel Proof bourbon is also an eight-year-old bourbon, which includes six to eight months of secondary aging in new American oak barrels. It is made from a mash of 69% corn, 21% rye, and 10% barley. Once again, proof varies, but my sample came in at 110.1 proof. The suggested retail price is $99 for a 750 mL bottle.
And finally, Toasted Barrel Proof bourbon is another eight-year-old bourbon. This time, the bourbon was finished for six to eight months in a new toasted barrel from Kelvin Cooperage. This was also made from the same mash of 69% corn, 21% rye, and 10% barley. My sample was 111.8 proof, but that will vary from batch to batch. The suggested retail price for a 750 mL bottle is $99.
Let’s see how they taste, shall we?
Wenzel Distillery Wheated Barrel Proof Bourbon
Purchase Info: This sample was sent at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.60
Details: 55.35% ABV. 8 years old. Mash bill: 65% corn, 12.5% wheat, 12.5% oats, and 10% barley.
Nose: Cinnamon, baked apple, honey, caramel, and oak.
Mouth: Hot and dry in the mouth. Notes of cinnamon, cereals, honey, and oak.
Finish: Medium-long and hot. Follows the nose with notes of cinnamon, honey, apple, oak, and then even more cinnamon.
Thoughts: There are two types of barrel-proof bourbon bottlings out there. There are those that are perfectly drinkable neat, often dangerously so. Then there are those that practically scream for water. This is one of the latter. When neat, this is so hot and dry in the mouth that it actually hurts to hold it in your mouth to search out the flavor notes. A splash of water not only tames the heat but amps up the sweetness, making for a much more enjoyable sip.
The nose is absolutely beautiful. The cinnamon and apple notes are just amazing. The addition of water really changes the nose as well. The sweetness is more pronounced, and it becomes much richer. More like a baked good. The finish goes from hot and medium-long to warm and medium with more sweet cinnamon. At the end of the day, this one needs water, and honestly, that's a good thing. You get to proof it down to where you want it. I like that. And I like this whiskey (at least with water).
Wenzel Distillery Toasted Barrel Proof Bourbon
Purchase Info: This sample was sent at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.60
Details: 55.9% ABV. 8 years old. Mash bill: 69% corn, 21% rye, and 10% barley. Finished for 6–8 months in new toasted oak barrels from Kelvin Cooperage.
Nose: Strong, sweet vanilla, cherry, oak, and floral notes.
Mouth: Sweet and spicy with notes of maple, cinnamon, cherry, vanilla, and oak.
Finish: Warm and medium-long in length. Notes of maple, cinnamon, cherry, and oak.
Thoughts: Another hot one that is screaming for water. And like its compatriot above, it also takes a splash of water well. In this case, water tames the heat but doesn't really seem to change the experience beyond that. It's a good bourbon with a nice cherry-vanilla note on the nose and finish, with maple and oak coming along for the ride as well. I like it.
Wenzell Distillery Double Oak Barrel Proof Bourbon
Purchase Info: This sample was sent at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.60
Details: 55.05% ABV. 8 years old. Mash bill: 69% corn, 21% rye, and 10% barley. Finished for 6–8 months in new American oak barrels.
Nose: Brown sugar, vanilla, oak, leather, and red fruit.
Mouth: Spicy cinnamon and ginger, leather, oak, honey, floral vanilla, and red fruits.
Finish: Warm and medium length. Notes of honey, vanilla, cinnamon candies, ginger, leather, and oak.
Thoughts: Hot, but not so hot that it's screaming for water. Though it does take it well. Water brings out more sweetness and vanilla and dampens the ginger and leather notes. Overall, this is another good whiskey that follows the old bourbon-maker's rule about selling you whiskey that you can add your own water to instead of them shipping you their water. I like it.
If I had to choose a favorite, it would be the Wheated with a splash of water. After that, in order, I'd go Double Oak with water, Toasted with water, Double Oak neat, Toasted neat, and finally Wheated neat. But it's all good stuff.
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