Ragged Branch Signature Bourbon

A really fascinating find. For background, see an article by a writer in Bourbon & Banter. Pretty amazing result for a distillery that started in 2014! The picture doesn't match the bottle I have, exactly, so to clarify, I'm tasting a Signature Bourbon, Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Batch 4, Bottle 376, 90 proof, 750ml. (Note a writer's review was from Batch 5.) The Virginia ABC web site says the mash bill is 66 percent corn, 17 percent rye and 17 percent malted barley. There's no age statement but I believe this is a 4-year bourbon. Glassware: "Stave & Thief" Glencairn. On the nose (neat) there's very little, and I found that fascinating. I finally discerned something between graham crackers and malted milk balls (other than the perpetual vanilla and caramel bouquet in every bourbon). On entry, lots of front-of-mouth flavor and pleasant mouth feel. I prefer wheated bourbons, so I am sensitive to rye but this was not very spicy. Again with that mysterious hybrid of graham crackers and malted milk balls! The finish was equally smooth and pleasant, with an almost-sweet aftertaste. With a little room-temperature water, the bouquet opened up to a degree I've not experienced before, much more aroma on the nose than when sampled neat. That same mix of flavors was there as well as another that I couldn't identify. On the tongue, entry to finish, the same as before but enhanced. Then I remembered a writer's reviews of this and other bottlings where he mentioned "chocolate" and "malted milk balls" several times. I realized I'm tasting nougat, like from the center of a Three Musketeers candy bar! Definitely different from other bourbons. This is a really satisfying bourbon and I recommend it highly.

I'm reviewing the Signature and the Wheated Bourbon together because neither stands out enough for its own write-up. *NOSE: Young and artificial. Dried Corn, Sawdust, Barnyard, Black Pepper. The Wheated version offers some Brown Sugar notes. Not a pleasing combination. *NEAT: Very Sweet on the tip of the tongue, but unfortunately, it still has to travel across the rest of your tongue for you to swallow it. Again, lots of Youth with Dried Corn, Creamed Corn, Sawdust Bitter Oak, and an overall unpleasant Off Note of Sweet Tea that you find in the back of the refrigerator that has started to go bad or ferment strained through a piece of Wet Cardboard. That is the lingering taste. Like the Nose, the Wheated does add some brown sugar sweetness, but nowhere near enough to balance that lingering unpleasantness on the back of the palate. *SPLASH: It makes no difference. Neither version can be saved. VERDICT: Bought a 50ml of each while visiting a VA ABC store on a trip. Poured most of both 50ml samples down the drain and apologized to the sink for subjecting it to almost 100ml of this stuff.

Color: Medium Copper Amber Nose: A youthful aroma of corn and varnish. Palate: (Consumed with an ice cube). Hmm, interesting. A slight burn on the initial sip. A subtly musty flavor. As the ice melted, a "butterscotch" note emerged in the aroma, which was not initially apparent. Unfortunately, this doesn't carry over to the palate. Not much more to comment on. Finish: Medium length, with a slight drying sensation and some musty, woody notes. Concluding Thoughts: I'm conflicted. I don't find it particularly good, but it does possess some redeeming characteristics. It's certainly different. I've experienced worse. I'm heading to the Ragged Branch Distillery tomorrow to sample some of their whiskeys, and I can at least rule this one out for my tasting flight. This was a small sample bottle purchased at a liquor store. Rating: 2.25 stars. Neither great nor terrible.

Virginia offers an annual discount on its spirits. I was surprised by the significant price reductions on these bottles, allowing me to purchase items typically beyond my budget. The product is sourced from farm to distillery, with the rye and corn (and perhaps wheat?) grown on their property. It's aged for 4 years and has a lovely auburn hue. It possesses a pleasing oily texture and is smooth, with notes of cinnamon and possibly vanilla buttercream. The finish includes clove and honey. The listed price does not reflect the sale price.

Similar to their wheated whiskey, this has a distinct malty, farm-like character on the nose and palate. A hint of ethanol is present at the finish, but doesn't overpower the aroma. The palate starts with a hint of sweet vanilla, followed by rye spice, and then finishes with a roasty/malty note from the malted barley. Far from a typical bourbon, but it's an intriguing pour.

It's clearly a wheated bourbon! Corn dust, wheat bread, baking spices, a bit of char, and it leaves long legs on the glass. It's spicy without being hot, and there's a noticeable sour mash note on the nose. Smells like you're right at the distillery. On the finish, I detect some raisin or perhaps dark fruit like cherries. Pleasantly surprising and a great value for a Double Gold Winner!