Same Old Moses Small Batch Bourbon

Unlike other companies that repurpose MGP spirit, Same Old Moses partnered with a Texas distillery to create a 4-grain bourbon using Oklahoma ingredients and aged it there for 4 years. This seems like a daring approach; let's see how it turns out. The nose begins with a blend of fresh varnish and maple syrup-covered flapjacks, followed by chocolate-covered espresso beans and roasted pecans. Then comes apple butter, sour cherry jam, and tart orange, leading to notes of cloves, ginger, and charred whole wheat toast with a moderate alcohol burn. The palate has a medium body, starting with a medium sourness and an ashy spice that gradually gives way to dark chocolate mocha and cinnamon rolls, then candied pecans. It continues with sour apple candy, maraschino cherries, and tangerine orange, transitioning to cloves, ginger, and over-steeped black tea, also with a medium alcohol burn. The finish is medium in length, featuring a mild ashy spice, dark chocolate mocha, sautéed apples, angel food cake, and pipe tobacco. Upon opening the sample and pouring it, the Balcones influence is immediately apparent with an appealing mix of freshly varnished wood, rich syrup, coffee, and sour fruits. This carries through to the taste but seems to lean towards an excessively oaked profile, common in many Texas whiskies, before concluding with baked sweets, coffee, and a slight ashiness. I am more sensitive to overly oaky profiles than most, so others might find this whiskey truly enjoyable. Many thanks to a friend for sharing this with me.

Tasted blind during a whiskey night with friends. This was the top choice among a group leaning towards less experienced whiskey drinkers. It puzzled me; I initially thought it was a rye, then maybe a rum. It's quite sweet, likely from the double-barreling. From the small sample, it didn't strike me as a bourbon. It's a four-grain bourbon supposedly made in Texas and aged in Oklahoma. I was initially skeptical and didn't plan to buy it, but the small taste made me curious, so I might get one to explore it further. Edit: After spending more time with this one using a proper sample size. The nose has a lot of cedar box and some caramel. The palate has a nice sweetness, though it's a bit thin. The woody cedar note appears on the finish. There's some rye spice and a molasses-like note, which is probably what I mistook for rum. It's a little unusual, more like a Texas bourbon, which makes sense as it was distilled there and the Oklahoma climate where it was aged is similar to north Texas. It's an interesting whiskey, I think it's decent, though I don't believe the value is great at its current price point. If it were closer to $35, it would be more appealing.

Another sample from a friend, this one is from his home state. I have to say I really enjoy this with plenty of maple on the nose, dusty cornbread with gentle oak. The palate is maple-flavored oatmeal and caramel with some baking spice. It's nice and rich with a clean finish of sweet fading barrel. Hints of leather and some hay throughout. This truly reminds me of Balcones Pot Still Bourbon, so I looked it up, and that is a 4-grain mash as well. Coincidence? Perhaps, but this is contract-distilled in Texas (with OK ingredients), so maybe Balcones is the partner. Then they age it longer and re-barrel. Regardless, if I saw this in Texas for a decent price, I would grab it; it's tasty bourbon...85/100.

Sweetness and cherry on the nose. Just the right amount of spice with oak, Smokey, and continued char. Of the several that I’ve had from Oklahoma this is my favorite. This has good complexity with the right linger. An ice cube brings out a hint of leather on the finish. Good offering and would recommend it.

The nose was surprisingly great. It tastes very young and flavored, not aged. I won't try it again.

A bit of a char taste initially, but the finish is outstanding!!