Sierra Norte Native Oaxacan Red Corn Single Barrel

Celebrating International Whiskey Day with my first Mexican whiskey. I'm hesitant, not due to the possibility, but my prior lack of success. It reminds me of my limited encounters with French whiskey, which were both overly young and possessed peculiar flavors. I anticipate unusual flavors from this red corn whiskey, but I'm hoping they'll be pleasant. As an extreme comparison, I greatly enjoy La Luna Cupreata, considering cupreata a worthy mezcal type, though it deviates from the norm. Nose: This is incredibly funky, carrying a cheesy, dirty sock aroma akin to La Luna Cupreata. I used La Luna as an example of an unusual dram, but I didn't expect such a similar scent. It's purely funk; no grain, fruit, or wood is apparent, perhaps a hint of wood at most. La Luna offers more sweetness, tartness, and cheese. This, in contrast, shows subtle wood and mild nuttiness. However, as a whiskey, it should be compared to other whiskeys, not a joven mezcal from rare agave. After some time, the wood becomes more noticeable, revealing vegetal corn notes, though not the typical sweet, buttery corn. The pervasive funk here evokes vibes of American whiskey made in an Irish style, similar to Ransom The Emerald. Palate: Sweet corn emerges, then shifts to vegetal flavors. Wood and a slight sweetness are present, mingling with a mellow character. Roasted red bell pepper appears intermittently, with occasional hints of orange. The vegetal quality is undeniable, strongly reminiscent of rhum agricole. I detect squash notes, but with greater wood maturity and pleasant barrel spice complementing the corn sweetness. A touch of white pepper is present, but it's a remarkably smooth whiskey. It's somewhat dusty and not overly sweet, yet offers a pleasant (albeit odd) corn flavor. It lacks the squash and sweet vegetal funk of Clement Premiere Canne, being more balanced. It possesses a more mature (?) funkiness and is better integrated. I'd describe it as intriguing, but not a truly exceptional palate. Finish: Substantial vegetal corn notes are present, along with spices and hints of vanilla. This closely resembles the palate and is not inferior. It slightly tones down the funk but also sacrifices some complexity. - Conclusion - Is this a good whiskey? I don't love it. The issue isn't Mexico or red corn, but primarily its youth. I'm optimistic about Mexican whiskey long-term, but the 10 months or so of aging was insufficient. It's certainly superior to white dog. I admit the red corn profile is somewhat peculiar. I initially disliked it but am warming to it. It's rapidly becoming interesting and palatable, though it functions more as a good funky budget sipper, which is problematic given its price. Aside from some noticeable ethanol and the challenging funk, it competes with Evan Willam's Single Barrel (14/23) and Elijah Craig Small Batch (15/23). It's also comparable to Ransom The Emerald (14/23), which I'm beginning to appreciate more and might reconsider its rating (though it still doesn't taste like Irish Whiskey). I'm inclined to rank it slightly above I.W. Harper 15 (14/23) and Uncle Nearest 1856. Old Granddad 114 (15/23) offers similar quality. If forced to choose, I'd favor the Old Granddad. I'd also prefer George Dickel Bottled In Bond (1st release) (16/23) over this. Its quality is closer to George Dickel 15 Single Barrel (15/23). I might lower the score to 12 or 13 on a future tasting if the off-notes and alcohol are more apparent. However, it's exceptionally smooth with a variety of interesting flavors. If you can tolerate the funk, it's complex and easy to drink, even with the ethanol. If it's a 14, it's on the higher end. I don't see it reaching 16, but wouldn't be surprised if I raised it later. For now, it's a 15. It offers poor value but is interesting enough to try. I'd be keen to sample the yellow corn version for comparison, as I've heard it's superior (though I've heard virtually nothing about the red, being a newer release).

The nose suggests roasted corn on the cob coated in pineapple juice, with an agave presence that brings tequila to mind. The palate is rather dry and somewhat vegetal, though a corn sweetness emerges, particularly on the finish. More roasted corn cob flavor is noticeable at the end. This is the second Mexican whiskey I've encountered; the first, tried at a resort in Mexico last year, also failed to impress. However, I always appreciate the chance to sample something novel. My thanks to a friend for the sample!

My thanks again to the wonderful for the sample! The nose offers butter and corn. It smells like white dog. While this isn't always a negative sign, it has frequently indicated underaged whiskey. The body is smoother than anticipated. It's young, certainly, but not harsh. It contains raisin, grape, and melon. Vanilla. It's juicy. The finish is quite short. It has grape juice, salt, black pepper, and a hint of mint.