Burnside Oregon Oaked Bourbon

It's been a while since I've actually opened a new bottle. An endless stream of samples has kept me occupied. So, tonight it’s this Oregon bourbon made by Eastside Distilling out of Portland. Now, I’m going to be a bit biased in this review. I picked this bottle up while I was on vacation in Oregon. To me, Oregon will be these amazing vistas of rugged coastlines and dark green pine forests. And Portland is ingrained in my mind as this uber hippy town with an amazing food truck scene. This one here is a sourced bourbon, matured in Garryana oak, which is native to the Pacific Northwest. That oak is sponge like, which adds an extra oomph of vanilla and spice. On the nose, I immediately get vanilla beans. Like the real ones grown in Madagascar and absurdly priced in Whole Paycheck, aka Whole Foods. Palette is all vanilla, with a finish of a bit of oak. The Garryana imparts a real dessert like treat to this. I’m actually surprised how the Garryana made this one almost like vanilla ice cream, while the same oak used at Westland imparts a more spicy flavor. If you like your bourbon sweet and extra-vanilla, this is right up your alley.

A fine craft creation from Portland, Oregon. My thanks to a friend for the sample! As mentioned in their review, if you appreciate a whiskey that is sweet with a pleasant vanilla note, you will enjoy this Burnside. And personally, I do enjoy a sweet, vanilla whiskey. However, sweet vanilla alone isn't particularly memorable. Fortunately, this whiskey offers some distinction with a slight oak dryness, similar to the wood note I often detect in Speyside whiskies. This is only the second garryana-aged whiskey I've experienced; the first was Westland Garryana. With the Westland, I found the garryana wood note to be too sharp. With the Burnside, the distinct garryana flavor is milder and complements the whiskey strongly. This is not a complex dram, and it lacks classic bourbon notes beyond the vanilla. In fact, tasted without knowing what it was, I might have guessed it was a wheat whiskey. But ultimately, it's very pleasant, easy to drink, and enjoyable.

More sweetness and vanilla than its 4-year-old counterpart, with some tannins providing a bit of sharpness. A very buttery texture, suggesting the second barrelling. The fruitiness found in the 4-year-old is more prominent here. It's still a little lighter and sweeter than my preference, with a chemical heat on the finish that I'm not particularly excited about. Still a more-than-decent bottle, just with a less-than-decent price.

I'm a big fan of another bourbon finished with Oregon oak. However, this bourbon seems younger and perhaps overly oaked for my preference. It has notes of caramel, heavy wood, and the finish is a bit too harsh.

Cinnamon, burnt sugar, and baking spices on the nose. Sweet at first taste, but the finish is dry and long. It leads you to expect a bright apple or candy flavor, but it turns a bit darker, in a good way.

Alcohol first, then syrup and orange peel on the nose. The more I sip, the more I taste a 50/50 bar, which is fine with me. The finish is sudden, but it's a charming little drink. Cheers to the spirits of Oregon!