Driftless Glen
Driftless Glen
48%
NAS
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Distilled by Driftless Glen in Baraboo, Wisconsin; this is their take on a bourbon whiskey. Distilled and matured entirely on their campus, they pull water from natural aquifer and distill using local grain. It's aged in standard barrels and bottled at 48% ABV. Let's dive in.
Sweet bread, honey, toffee and a touch of pepper. It's middle of the road in terms of the tug of war between sweet and spicy. No sign of youth, it's a quick hitter on the nose that delivers sweet dessert notes, a bit of oak, and some baking spice to balance.
On the palate, it's got a moderate viscosity, likely the result of the final ABV. 48% is a nice spot for a bourbon, brings in plenty of character without an overwhelming heat or alcohol component. Brown butter, toffee, a big hit of honey and peppercorns are present on the palate, with a nice oakiness in the background.
The finish is where this bourbon shines, with it closing out dry, and clean. Sweet toffee, a touch of blackberry, some pepper and then the tannin lets this finish cleanly.
Overall, this is one of the more overlooked bourbon whiskeys on the shelf, likely due to the Wisconsin heritage. Despite the release from a newer distiller, it drinks like a mature whiskey with no shortage of great character.
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