Witherspoon's Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Online sources suggest this is 5-6 years old, but I disagree. It's hard to make a Bourbon that age with such a bland taste. It does offer a faint hint of vanilla and a minuscule amount of smoke. Even with a large ice cube melting, it doesn't improve. In fact, as stated, it would be better neat. The flavor profile strongly resembles white corn, which yields a less complex taste, very one-dimensional, and quite simple. So simple that I had to check if it was a Spirit Whiskey. The nose is pleasant but not complex either. I'd call it a one-trick pony. It smells like it tastes with no real depth. Not even like a librarian secretly has a wild side; it's just a completely flat, single-lane experience that makes me question if it's even 24 months old. I'm sure they're not lying, because the true Texas Bourbon deities would unleash furious vengeance upon those who try to tarnish Bourbons' Great Name. Overall, I would skip it; I don't need to buy a bottle.

Appearance: A deep copper/amber color, brilliantly clear. Aroma: Green apple, bubble gum/cotton candy, light caramel, very faint oak notes with a hint of smoke and vanilla. It smells quite sweet. Taste: Candied green apple, a subtle smoky body with caramel and oak notes. A high ethanol burn appears at the end, leaving a lingering aftertaste of oak and berries. A faint peanut brittle note concludes the experience. Mouthfeel: Light-bodied initially with medium viscosity. Finish: A very dry, astringent finish with notes of alcohol and oak. This is not my preferred bourbon, even though I generally favor higher alcohol content spirits. It tastes overly fruity and immature. Rating: 2 Stars - I would not purchase a full bottle or would be displeased to receive a measure at a bar, but I would not discard it.

I reside near the Witherspoon Distillery and have visited their original location, even assisting in bottling spirits at their new facility opened last year. While my preferred Witherspoon spirit is the Cross Timbers Single Malt, I've also genuinely appreciated their Bourbon and the Single Barrel version of their Bourbon (which I helped bottle). In my view, Witherspoon's is a fantastic local enterprise that also produces an excellent whiskey. I typically enjoy it with a little ice and water, though the last single barrel I tried was neat, and I found its flavor and smoothness to be quite enjoyable.

Perhaps I was fortunate, but the bottle presented at my tasting was tried blind, and I honestly would never have identified it as a Texas bourbon! I reside here and must confess that almost all Texas bourbon is subpar, including that from Garrison Brothers! However, this one had a pleasing aroma of banana nut bread, accompanied by subtle oak and hints of vanilla, which immediately caught me by surprise. Keep in mind, though, that this was a single barrel, and those can vary greatly, as I discovered with many Henry McKenna 10-year bottles, but the one I sampled was exceptional, scoring 87/100.

This gets a top rating, though its flavor profile might warrant a slightly lower score. The reason is that it's a Texas craft product that is genuinely well-made. I sampled it in downtown Austin and was impressed, as these kinds of products usually leave me feeling let down. Great job! Focus on quality, and I hope success follows. Best of luck.

This Straight Bourbon Whiskey offers a good, dependable option for daily enjoyment. The nose carries hints of rich tobacco, baking spices, and oak. The initial taste is warm, with flavors of toffee, baking spices, and oak. The finish is characterized by hot cinnamon.