Because the workforce behind the podcast Bourbon Pursuit releases new bottles below their Pursuit Spirits model, they’re leaning into taste territory past simply mixing. For the primary bourbon and rye in “The Oak Assortment,” founders Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil have imparted further wooden affect by way of a wide range of oak finishes.
As outlined in a current episode of Bourbon Pursuit, they’ve completed this with the assistance of Innerstave, which permits producers to “end” with totally different woods using wooden blocks, staves, and different merchandise that may be inserted into batching tanks as a substitute of refilling particular person barrels, very similar to Maker’s Mark’s ending collection.
Immediately, we’ll be batch #11CC of each bourbon and rye in Pursuit Spirits’ The Oak Assortment. Let’s dive in.
Pursuit United Bourbon Completed with Toasted American and French Oak – The customary Pursuit United Bourbon launch comprises a mix of whiskey from Kentucky (Bardstown Bourbon Co.), Tennessee (undisclosed), and New York (Finger Lakes Distilling). The mix utilized in The Oak Assortment launch differs and replaces the Kentucky part with Indiana (MGP). The whiskey used is 4 to 6 years outdated.
The nostril punches above its proof, and it’s heavy on the ethanol and extra astringent than I anticipated. I get some sweetness and sizzling cinnamon, then a contact of orange rind. However there’s not quite a lot of depth right here, and this sadly noses in a means that jogs my memory of recent distillate. There’s actually oak affect, however surprisingly I get extra grain than oak up entrance.
On the tongue, there’s a pop of sizzling cinnamon, a bit like crimson sizzling sweet, that dissipates relatively shortly. That’s adopted by woody barrel char and only a contact of vanilla wafer, with some gentle gingerbread. There’s extra sweetness than the nostril suggests, and for a really transient second, it warms the palate fairly properly. However the midpalate is brief, and the flavour doesn’t stick round for almost lengthy sufficient. The skinny mouthfeel contributes to a fleeting end that left my palate a lot drier than I might have appreciated. For me, this can be a uncommon miss from the Pursuit workforce. 108 proof. C+ / $75
Pursuit United Rye Completed with Sherry French Revere Oak – Not like the bourbon, The Oak Assortment’s rye comprises the identical parts because the regular Pursuit United launch. It’s sourced from Kentucky (Bardstown Bourbon Co.) and Maryland (Sagamore Spirit). Once more, the whiskey used is 4 to 6 years outdated.
The nostril strikes with wealthy and unique fruit, together with papaya and guava, with cloves and baking spices (allspice, cloves, and cardamom stick out). There are some acquainted and welcome rye notes with a contact of novelty. Then there’s a little bit of lemonade and tea — an Arnold Palmer, anybody? — that performs properly with the traditional rye spice. Not like the bourbon, this doesn’t overpower with ethanol, and I discovered myself actually desirous to spend time with the nostril.
On the tongue, there’s stability from the primary sip and an interaction between three zones: candy, spicy, and fruity. It’s just like the usual Pursuit United Rye with some clear further affect from the oak. It’s a full bodied sip, and I get some natural notes just like the common launch. These are just a bit subdued right here, although not drowned out. It’s powerful to select particular fruit notes on the tongue, however total they carry some good acidity to essentially hit from a number of angles. There’s additionally a stunning darkish caramel sweetness.
The end is important with warming baking and rye spice that swap to a little bit of cooling spearmint as one may anticipate from a mix containing some 95% rye mashbill. The mint lingers properly and invitations the imbiber again for an additional sip to restart the sweet-fruity-spicy cycle. There are quite a lot of taste layers right here, which is enjoyable, however that’s on the slight expense of the depth of the common rye launch. There may be one too many cooks within the kitchen right here, although it’s an pleasant pour. 108 proof. A- / $75
Pursuit United Bourbon Completed with Toasted American and French Oak
$75
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