Cabin Still Bourbon

I found information online regarding Old Cabin Still bourbon, which was produced by Stitzel-Weller. Norton Simon made a significant error with a large quantity of their whiskey and acquired Stitzel-Weller in 1972 because whiskey sales were declining and people preferred different beverages. They gradually blended this inferior whiskey into their budget brand, Old Cabin Still. This marked the end for Old Cabin Still. Heaven Hill acquired this brand in 1993, but they do not even feature it on their website or promote it in any way. I spotted a bottle of this and felt compelled to try it for ten dollars. Based on what I've learned, it used to be a wheated bourbon but is now a standard bourbon at 80 proof, likely using the standard Heaven Hill house mashbill. It is fully aged for thirty-six months, according to the label. I'm surprised by how decent it actually is. Yes, I understand it's a very bottom-shelf option, but it does possess some good flavor.

I approached this with low expectations. Putting my olfactory senses to the test, I detected caramel and vanilla on the nose. This was slightly sour on the palate—perhaps yeast-like, young, and watered down. The finish was very brief. I have been purchasing a number of products that can trace their origins back to the Stitzel-Weller distillery during its peak years of producing several wheated bourbons. While Cabin Still fits that description, it is my understanding that this is no longer a wheater. As other reviewers have noted, it is also no longer a straight bourbon. Cabin Still does not rank among my favorite whiskies, but it is not bad. This is certainly good enough for me to use as a weekday pour. There is nothing wrong with it inherently. It is simply not very exciting.

Aroma - A faint scent of cherry cough syrup, damp cardboard, and vanilla cherry diet cola, with an artificial sweetness to it. Flavor - Hits the palate with a bitter oak and cinnamon spice. The mouthfeel is very thin. A hint of bitterness, similar to over-roasted honey peanuts with the skin on; it's somewhat sweet but has a slight bitterness from burnt sugar. It's a little tannic, as if you accidentally bit into a peach or nectarine pit, but it leans more towards a dark pit fruit taste, like an unripe cherry or plum. Aftertaste - A short, lingering bitterness fades into a cinnamon spice. Then, a somewhat unpleasant damp cardboard/wood taste emerges with a dry bitterness. 60/100

Check the label. Cabin Still is no longer classified as a Straight Bourbon Whiskey aged 36 months. It has now been, for some time, a Bourbon Whiskey with Natural Flavors added. No age statement, and in this instance, that does not signify 4 years. If you appreciated the original Cabin Still and happen to locate an "older" bottle somewhere, it would be wise to purchase it!

The aroma is reminiscent of paint thinner and corn. It's quite sweet with an unusual mix of spice notes. The finish is harsh. At best, it would deserve half a star. I do not advise this whiskey.

A subtle aroma, a moderately sweet taste, and fairly smooth. Nothing remarkable, but decent enough for sipping when funds are low.