Who Dat Straight Bourbon Whiskey

I am reminded as I look over notes that I should not only present widely available bottles, but also highlight some of the local spirits. I am new to Louisiana, but they certainly enjoy their drinks here, and I have found it very easy to acquire spirits. As you will soon read, bourbon is not the primary spirit made here. Local distilleries produce it, but the climate here, which is quite swampy, seems unsuitable for aging. Rum, however, is plentiful due to the history of sugarcane cultivation in southern Louisiana, a history that is admittedly complex. More on that later. At a small gathering to welcome my wife and me, one of my new coworkers brought out this bottle. We opened it together and had the same reaction. The aroma is like a young bourbon. Typical notes. Everything seemed fine initially. The first sip… it tastes like young bourbon. There are some sharp notes, but they aren't unpleasant. Then, it takes a very concerning turn, much like the New Orleans Saints do in the second half of most games. The taste shifts from “okay, this isn't bad” to “oh dear god, what is happening?! Am I dead?”. The finish takes a sharp turn into the realm of wet dog and sawdust. It is highly unpleasant. It continues to develop into a mix of sharp ethanol and a metallic taste, like sucking on a penny. I took another sip to confirm, and yes, the flavor is consistent. It went down the drain. I believe two things went wrong here. Firstly, it was rushed to market. The bottle stated it was aged “at least 12 months.” While it is practically tropical in Louisiana, even then, I recall many well-aged Caribbean rums that still have 10-12 year age statements. More time in the barrel might be the approach for craft distilling. The second issue I observed is that the distillers may not have been very precise in cutting their spirit run. It tastes as though they allowed some of the heads or tails into the final product, resulting in that metallic character. Perhaps these are less experienced distillers making their first attempt at their preferred spirit. Two stars for now. It appears I will be here for a while, so we will see if things improve in a few years. That was the situation with Still Austin when I was there, so there is still hope for these producers. Cheers.

Vanilla and cherries on the nose. Char and leather upon first taste. Adding ice brings out some oak and further reveals the vanilla and char. Minimal burn or lingering sensation. Acceptable but lacking depth.

Aroma: Cinnamon, light apple, subdued. Taste: Some fruit and sweetness. Watery mouthfeel. No burn. No distinct flavor. Perfect for mixing.

Aroma: faint vanilla and apple. Taste: very mild burn, oak, a touch of spice, vanilla. Lacks complexity. The low proof is noticeable.