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📚Background: Made using the Lincoln County process where leftover mash from a previous batch (called "backset" or sour mash) is reintroduced to the new mash bill. The backset contains active yeast and lactic acid bacteria which result in a lower pH for the new mash, more acidic, controlling the growth of unwanted adulterating bacteria during fermentation. Ultimately, sour mashing results in a smoother and more consistent taste due rather than the implied sour taste. Occasionally, the presence of good bacteria growing between mashings can result in subtle earthy or fruit flavors. This whiskey is then maple charcoal filtered prior to barreling just like Jack Daniel's, a process that clarifies the whiskey but in theory does not change the flavor profile. The juice comes from Tennessee but was bottled in Texas (?!?!) by Dynasty Sprits. Interestingly enough, following a bit of fraud and scandal, Sazerac purchased Dynasty in 2018. The color is surprisingly dark for the age, suggesting the use of additional coloring agents.
🛒Sourced: $14.99 for a 1.75L bottle, clearance bin in 2021
🧪Proof: 80, 40% ABV
🥔Mash Bill: 80% corn, 12% malted barley, 8% rye - On the side labeling, it says "aged for a minimum of 12 months". You'll note the absence of the term "straight" or anything else that would give us more details on process quality.
👃Nose: Woody and young, some booziness even at 80 proof. Some off odors like pencil eraser and salt, like brackish water.
😜Palate: Way hotter than it should be for the proof. Mouthful of burn. New wood flavors like pine rosin or sour molasses. Not much else. Unpleasant on the tongue. Very thin but somehow trying to kill my taste buds all the same. This thing is basically Roundup.
💦Finish: Super short but leaves a burning trail. Not really much flavor aftertaste at all.
🏆 Overall: 1.5/10 - So bad I poured it out. Mercifully this brand is discontinued, but it's truly awful reputation has resulted in bottles still being on the market. I dumped the rest of this bottle and should have done so years ago. I almost wonder if they sourced barrels that didn't pass quality control after the first year intentionally, hoping to drown out the off flavors with downproofing. https://distiller.com was more charitable with their community rating but I just don't see it.
💵Would buy again? No, God No
⚖️Rating Scale:
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I'd rather have.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.