By Richard Thomas
Ranking: B-
(Credit score: Richard Thomas)
When I first wrote about the most recent bourbon model to come back to Kentucky, Avalon Spirits’ Whiskey Row, I made a quick, opening commentary: given the lead time that goes into beginning a enterprise like a whiskey model, one hardly ever will get to decide on the circumstances below which one will get began. For instance, the identical enterprise launched within the center 2000s would have had all the Bourbon Increase mendacity earlier than them, however would nonetheless have to construct up their model within the 4 or 5 years earlier than it began.
Since that commentary was made in April, the softening of the whiskey market has change into clearer and invited a lot hypothesis. That doesn’t imply there isn’t room for a newcomer, nevertheless it actually makes issues tougher. The one factor we will be sure of is that Kentucky Artisan Distillery have to be glad to have the contract manufacturing work for Whiskey Row on their books. That is completely different from the earlier model of Whiskey Row Straight Bourbon, drawing on shares of bourbon completed in two separate cask sorts, plus the core new oak ageing: Cognac and Pedro Ximenez Sherry.
Whiskey Row Small Batch is the flagship and entry stage run of their three rung ladder, the opposite two steps consisting of a cask energy and a bonded bourbon. It’s bottled at 90 proof.
The Bourbon
My tackle the look of the whiskey in my glass was uninteresting, however clear mid-amber. I discovered the nostril had the benchmark bourbon parts of sweet corn, caramel and cinnamon, however with some butterscotch added in for good measure. The flavour provided no twists or turns, following in the identical vein. The end was a lightweight contact, working with cinnamon and oak.
The Worth
A bottle of this runs for $49.99.
