🥃Review #85: Tom Bullock's Burnt Orange Bourbon

Paying homage to legendary African American Bartender Tom Bullock, this flavored bourbon is absolutely begging to be put into an old fashioned.  Tom Bullock (1872–1964) was an influential bartender in the pre-Prohibition era that made history in 1917 by becoming the first Black American to publish a cocktail recipe book, "The Ideal Bartender." Bullock was noted as having served many notable figures including President Teddy Roosevelt, and was somewhat widely known for his distinctive technique of garnishing drinks with flaming orange peel. Tom Bullock's is a brand by Henderson Spirits Group and also offers an Old Tom Gin with Sweet Lime. Henderson spirits was founded in 2020 by Alan Henderson of NBA fame with the explicit mission of "Diversifying the Bar".

🛒Sourced: $55.99 at Total Wine - 750ml - Reference price. 

Gifted to me by my Sister and Brother-in-Law. Thanks for supporting my hobby and filling my cup!

🧪Proof: 82.3 proof, 41.15% ABV 

🎨Color: Y4 - Though the bottle strongly implies orange, I see this one more on the yellow side of the spectrum.

I separately really love the vibrant colors and artbook on the bottle. If Bullock was as dapper in real life as he appears on this bottle, I'm sure he was a hit wherever he went. 

🥔Mash Bill: Unknown. Distilled, Aged, and Bottled in Kentucky. Four years old. 

Neat

👃Nose: Mostly orange peel and tangerine. There is a dancing vanilla element and vague whiskey undertone, especially towards the end of the sniff.

😜Palate: Very sweet and thick/syrupy on the tongue. Drinking deep, you'll get plenty of orange, sort of a creamsicle type taste. There is little astringency and I do get some wood influence, though it's mostly overshadowed by the orange.

💦Finish: Short, the most whiskey flavor you'll get - some small part of toasted oak amidst fading OJ.

🏆 Overall Rating:  5/10 - Good, though it begs for bitters and ice - It's pretty tasty even if I can't imagine pouring a glass of it straight often. If you have a big sweet tooth, I could see it hitting the spot pretty well, particularly if chilled. As with most liqueurs, I find it a bit sweet for solo consumption, but it is well crafted as a base for cocktails or for mixing with a huge variety of solvents.  

Used in Cocktails

This bottle makes no secret that their intention is for you to mix it! Here is their recipe for a Tom Bullock's Old Fashioned:

• 1 Lump Sugar
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1.5 Jiggers of Tom Bullocks Burnt Orange Bourbon

Stirred heavily and put over ice in a toddy glass with orange rind for garnish. 

The extent of my whiskey preparation is usually limited to "put it in a glass", but these directions are plenty easy enough. 

🍸 Cocktail Rating:  7/10 - Great, an orange mixtape - I scoffed at the sugar cube, but with some bitters and a good ice it was pretty solid in an old fashioned. I also tried mixing it with black tea, semi-sweet, and that was quite a lovely pairing indeed.

💵Would buy again? Not the type of thing I typically go for, but I can see how it would be a welcome addition to many a liqueur cabinet.

⚖️Rating Scale: 

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out 
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice. 
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws | Struggle to get through the bottle
4 | Serviceable | Mixing or ice recommended.
5 | Good | Drinkable Neat | An agreeable dram indeed.
6 | Very Good | Any flaws offset by interesting flavors | A cut above.
7 | Great | You find yourself reaching for this one often | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Serve to Impress Guests | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite | You guard this bottle jealously.