Pursuit Spirits has been releasing quite a lot of American whiskeys below their very own label for a number of years. Now, the podcasters-turned-bottlers are taking the model in an extra path with the revival of two classic labels — and accordingly, some new whiskey to go along with them.
The Mellwood Legacy Assortment pays homage to the positioning of their Louisville-based facility, situated on the nook of Frankfort and Mellwood Avenues. Mellwood Distillery Co. traces its origins again to 1865 and, like many whiskey makers on the time, ceased operations in 1918 as Prohibition went into impact.
The preliminary Legacy Assortment releases function Mellwood Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon — Pursuit Spirits’ first bottled-in-bond whiskey — and Derby City Barrel Proof Bourbon. Each are bought in 375ml “hip flask” bottles, which the model says “tie outdated world allure with at present’s trendy aesthetic.” These bottles will accessible completely on the Pursuit Spirits Distillery and to their membership members.
Let’s see how they style.
Mellwood Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Evaluation
It is a six 12 months outdated bottled-in-bond bourbon comprised of a mashbill of 78% corn, 12% rye, and 10% malted barley. Although the collections press launch didn’t disclose the distillery of origin, by regulation, that have to be displayed on the bottle. The whiskey was distilled at DSP-KY-20041 (Rabbit Gap) and bottled by DSP-KY-20135 (the comparatively new designation for Pursuit Spirits).
The nostril kicks off with traditional caramel, then shortly provides in spiced pecans, butter pecan ice cream, melted sweet corn, and cinnamon-rich apple pie a la mode. Oak is pretty mild right here, and the nostril itself leans a bit grain-forward in its sweetness. However that’s to not suggest it’s tough across the edges; quite the opposite, there’s an inviting, approachable stability with only a contact of baked fruit hidden deep throughout the aromas.
A primary sip brings extra butter pecan ice cream, in addition to caramel popcorn, exhausting butterscotch sweet, chewy preserved ginger, and darkish apple butter. Flavors get darker and extra closely spiced towards the midpalate, the apple butter particularly rising bolder and richer as oak affect steadily provides some good astringency to counteract the candy. As with the nostril, the palate isn’t overly advanced, but it surely presents its flavors in stability. On the end, some evenly tannic, lemon-kissed candy tea brings us residence. Not a foul begin, although I saved hoping one or two particular components would punch by way of extra.
100 proof.
B+ / $30 (375ml)
Derby City Barrel Proof Bourbon 7 Years Outdated Evaluation
It is a seven 12 months outdated, barrel proof bourbon bottled at 122.8 proof. (Notice it will differ some from batch to batch.) It comes from an undisclosed Kentucky supply, with a mashbill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley.
Daring and boozy cherry syrup leads among the many early aromas, together with a sweet-and-savory medley that features walnut extract, dried black figs, and pineapple-glazed and clove-encrusted ham. Just a few extra sniffs carry fruitcake, barrel char, and darkish praline. All of a sudden, a pop of shaved darkish chocolate. Taken collectively, the expertise jogs my memory of the aftermath of Christmas pudding that’s been set alight, the scent of burnt brandy and caramelized fruit hanging within the air — maybe with extra cocoa.
A primary sip brings traditional Kentucky bourbon rye spice (had I not recognized, I’d have guessed a better proportion of that grain within the mashbill), darkish cherry syrup, cooked peaches, cinnamon sticks, and cinnamon chewing gum, flat cola, and diluted maple syrup. I wouldn’t have minded one or two of these notes sticking excessive above the remainder, however total, it’s a pleasant composition that shortly invitations extra sips, even at 122+ proof. The end falls only a shade flatter in comparison with the palate, with pronounced cola and a splash of cherry. Just a few drops of water introduced out extra pink fruit on the ultimate act, together with ripe strawberry.
122.8 proof.
B+ / $50 (375ml)
Mellwood Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
USD30
