Tatoosh Bourbon

I discovered the Tatoosh Bourbon, Rye, and Scotch products on a Holland America cruise from Vancouver to Alaska and was captivated by them. I'm trying the Tatoosh Bourbon first, which is 80 proof and has very subtle flavors of corn and oak, along with sweet dark cherries and vanilla. It finishes with a soft, smooth, and light warmth. The Rye is 86 proof, with a mash bill of 70% rye and 30% corn, which moderates the rye flavor! Despite that, it still has a very distinct rye taste. This will become a regular at my bar. The Scotch is 80 proof. While I'm not typically a Scotch drinker, this seems to possess the character of a Scotch but with significantly less harshness. By chance, I met one of the owners on board the ship while they were conducting a brief training session with the ship's bartenders. The distillery is located in Seattle, Washington, but the product isn't currently available in my home state of SC, with GA being the closest option. Please give it a try if you find it.

It tastes weak, which isn't surprising given the low ABV. There's a lot of minerality present. It's sweet with some buttery, but not savory, qualities, and abundant vanilla alongside brown sugar and maple. There's a bit of bitter alcohol lurking but it's not too unpleasant. There's a touch of barrel influence, but not much. Hints of rye might be present. It lacks the intense alcoholic bitterness that would make it unsuitable for mixing, but it's not a sipper either. There's some leather and a generic cinnamon spice. It's starting to sound quite complex in this review, but it really isn't and it's far too weak. This is a truly uninspired and almost bland whiskey. It's exceedingly dull.

Definitely skip... a hard pass!!! Lacking any depth or pleasant flavor, probably because it's diluted to 80 proof. I don't mean to be overly critical, but this tastes inexpensive, unfinished, and suitable only for a cheap cocktail or the trash. As a side note, if you're aiming for anything under 90 proof, bourbon might not be for you.

Starts out strong but fades fast. Not for sipping.

A faint trace of smokiness with sweet undertones of vanilla and chocolate.

Preferable to the Whiskey but requires some aging.