Whiskey purists may balk at blends and even some spirits that distillers finish with different types of wood. I get it, but sometimes they’re worth a try. Here are a couple of recent ones I’ve picked up, along with the stories behind how they came into my possession.
There’s a store near me that I don’t go in often, mainly because the guys who work there try to upsell me on something, but it’s convenient to pop in and out of. Last week, I stopped by there because I wanted to pick up a bottle of the Maker’s Mark America 250 packaging, and sure enough, the guy behind the counter offered me a sample of something new. He didn’t have to twist my arm to get me to buy a bottle.
Whole Hogsworth: The 15 (Bourbon Whiskey and Armagnac)
Single barrel blend; my bottle is 110.8 proof.
I paid $64.95 for it in the store.
Honestly, I didn’t know anything about Armagnac beyond that bakers used it a couple of times on The Great British Baking Show, so I was surprised to learn that it’s a brandy. The nose bridges the gap between bourbon and Armagnac — caramel, oak, and fruit. At this proof point, it packs a punch neat, but I get the apple and pear notes along with the typical bourbon notes. I added a few drops of water to tame it a bit, and those same flavors come through with less unrelenting high-proof heat.
Over ice, this blend still makes itself known. Naturally, the on-the-rocks version is similar enough to the neat version, only colder and slightly tamer. In every form, it makes itself known. I’m just not sure if it’s good enough at the price point to stay in the regular rotation.
Rating: 8.5/10
Related: Whiskey Wednesday (Thursday Edition): A Flight of Carolina Bourbons at the Beach
Back in May, when I went to Myrtle Beach for vacation, I booked a distillery tour at Twelve 33 in Little River, S.C., just north of Myrtle Beach. I’d been there before with other family members for a tasting, but I hadn’t done the tour.
It was a quiet Monday tour — only five of us on the tour with the owner conducting the tour. We started out with a tasting similar to the one I had done a few years before, only with more options, including the bourbon I review below.
Finally, we got to enjoy a cocktail and appetizer in Twelve 33’s speakeasy. I had pimento cheese on flatbread, which was really nice even though the bread was a bit salty, and a Smoked Old Fashioned. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Twelve 33 Distillery Big Six Amburana
Bourbon finished with Brazilian amburana spirals
Mash bill: corn, wheat, rye, and malt (no percentages), 96 proof
Retails for $59.95 online
Brazilian amburana wood is one of those woods that distillers use to finish spirits to give them a richer, sweet-spicy flavor. Distillers have to be careful with their use of amburana because it can take over a whiskey or spirit quickly.
This is a viscous spirit; that’s the first thing you notice. The nose is spicy and sweet, and when I tried it neat, it’s rich in cinnamon praline flavor. It reminds me of cinnamon toast or churros in an appealing way. It comes across as luxurious and indulgent.
On the rocks, it’s tamer. The flavors are still there, but they’re much less prominent. This might be one of the rare bourbons that I like better neat than on ice. Since it’s harder to get in person, this one’s a treat bourbon that I don’t reach for quite as often.
Rating: 9/10
