“Ah, however have you ever tried the first batch?”
I can’t let you know what number of occasions I’ve heard some variation on this chorus. On tasting some not-very-distinguished whiskey from a Johnny-come-lately unbiased bottler or blender, I’ve expressed astonishment (not in a great way) on the hype surrounding these manufacturers. Once I make observe of this publicly, I’m admonished to hunt out the (now scarce and extra overpriced) early releases on which these reputations have been constructed.
That remark about prior batches factors in the direction of a method that has been efficiently employed at the very least as soon as by upstart NDPs seeking to make a reputation for themselves: supply some distinctive inventory (bonus factors if they will credibly recommend that it’s from a legendary distillery, ideally one which not exists) and bottle it as an inaugural launch. Earn outlandish plaudits. Comply with that up with subsequent batches missing the identical pedigree however coasting on the fame (and worth level) of the predecessor. Revenue.
I’ll as soon as once more be dealing in batches in the present day however can be hoping for a completely completely different sort of consequence: I’m anticipating the second batches to be higher than the primary. In a couple of moments, I’ll let you know why I harbor that anticipation. Earlier than that, although, a reintroduction to the Pursuit United model…
I used to be first launched to Pursuit United’s blended bourbon once I was kindly gifted a pattern by Kenny Coleman, one half of the “C+C” in guardian firm C+C Spirits’ title. I discovered the method novel, however what actually impressed me was the worth (within the sense of quality-for-price) of what ended up within the bottle. Lest I be accused of offering a optimistic evaluation for the needs of schmoozing the 2 most consequential bourbon podcasters, I’d like to notice that I later bought a bottle of the bourbon, utilizing my very own money, for my dwelling bar. It has since disappeared, fulfilling the model’s ambition to be a dependable each day sipper.
That was adopted up by a style of the Pursuit United blended rye which, if something, improved on the expertise supplied by the bourbon. With that launch, blender Ryan Cecil proved that he had not simply caught lightning in a bottle as soon as accidentally. I used to be not alone on this evaluation; sentiment amongst those that had tried each the bourbon and the rye appeared universally optimistic, once more noting the very top quality delivered for the value, with further appreciation of the model’s relative transparency.
Right here’s the place my aforementioned hopes for continuous enchancment come into play. To begin with the part components: Kenny beforehand talked about that Pursuit had secured aged inventory, which can develop into backfilled with newly stuffed barrels being put down now. There’s the chance that the age and (maybe) the standard of the components will enhance over time; certainly, the press launch for these second batches notes “the again of Pursuit United Rye labels will not show an age assertion as a result of all elements are older than 4 years.”
That mentioned, there’s the potential for different adjustments as effectively. I famous with curiosity the next paragraph from the press launch:
“Pursuit United Bourbon contains a new mashbill within the mix. ‘The varieties of barrels we used for the primary two releases of Pursuit United weren’t accessible so we labored with Bardstown Bourbon Firm to discover a comparable product of theirs,’ Ryan Cecil mentioned. ‘After a number of small-scale blends, I moved ahead on a mashbill that has just a little bit extra rye. This delivers a bit extra spice and a deeper stone fruit style.’”
To get extra information, I peppered Kenny with the next questions, which he kindly answered by way of e-mail:
Malt: The age on the rye has elevated, per the press launch; any change within the bourbon age?
Kenny: No change within the bourbon, for now. All the bourbon elements are 4 and 5 years outdated.
Malt: Is the intention for the age to march upwards over time, or will you be making an attempt to stay carefully to the flavour profiles of the preliminary batches?
Kenny: All the above. The mix will proceed to be 4 to 5 years outdated whereas our whiskey shares develop. The present plan is to carry again barrels so all elements can be six years outdated. Nonetheless, we are going to make that judgement afterward. We tried one of many elements at six years outdated and it didn’t style any higher than when it was 4. Both approach, we’ve got lots of time on our arms till we have to fear about it. We’re spending $1.2M yearly on new fill barrels with the identical mash invoice and char ranges so we will keep a constant taste profile.
Malt: Talking of taste profiles: the press launch mentions “deeper stone fruit” within the bourbon. You additionally point out a unique bourbon mash invoice from Bardstown. Any particulars or feedback about this?
Kenny: We’ve used each dime that was made through the years of promoting Pursuit Collection single barrels to buy 4, three, two, and one yr outdated barrels of all elements. After we made our bulk buy of barrels from Bardstown Bourbon Firm, a small element was ignored. Although the barrels we bought have been from 2018, the fill date was in December. That may have delayed the United bourbon launch till December, however in actuality it could have meant no 2022 launch.
We talked to Bardstown Bourbon Co and there have been no extra barrels accessible of the actual mash invoice we needed. Nonetheless, there have been barrels accessible that had an identical mashbill with a barely greater rye content material. We obtained a pattern and Ryan did his factor to check the mix. Though the tip result’s barely completely different from our earlier batch, we’re very pleased with the end result. Placing batch numbers on the label turned out to be a superb determination in spite of everything.
Malt: Every other adjustments to the elements of the bourbon or the rye that we should always pay attention to?
Kenny: The preliminary United Rye launch that received double gold at San Francisco had one part of three yr rye and it was depicted on the label to observe TTB guidelines. One yr later, all elements at the moment are 4 years outdated and we may drop the age assertion.
Malt: You’d beforehand talked about some main progress ambitions, as much as 50,000 bottles in a launch. I seen that the rye launch of 10,000+ bottles is effectively above the 6,000 you had laid out after we spoke about it. Are you able to present an replace in your expectations for the attain of the model?
Kenny: The unique plan for the rye was solely 6,000 bottles in 2022 however, as soon as we noticed the reception available in the market, we felt prefer it’s a superb alternative to strike whereas the iron is sizzling. We had already bought fairly a couple of rye barrels from Bardstown, so we had these able to go. We approached Sagamore and requested to buy greater than our contracted quantity, which they fortunately made occur. With our present funding in new fill barrels, the plan is to have a 50,000 six pack case portfolio by 2030. United Rye can be about 20% to 25% of that. It’s a robust and impressive roadmap!
Malt: Any expansions past the bourbon and rye within the works? Maybe a “bourye?”
Kenny: We’re known as Pursuit Spirits for that very cause. Throughout PursuitPalooza this yr, attendees obtained a chance to strive our rum being aged in United bourbon barrels. There may be additionally a brand new extension known as Pursuit United Oak Assortment that can have its first launch this yr. This may mix our United merchandise with completely different oak finishes. The door is at all times open to new merchandise as we develop and wish to meet the wants of consumers. Whiskey will at all times be our bread and butter.
Malt: As Ryan continues to hone his mixing prowess, have you considered experimenting with extra unique mix elements (e.g. aged gentle whiskey)?
Kenny: Our present focus is making Pursuit United bourbon and rye successful. There are a couple of collaboration tasks within the works as effectively, however every little thing is bourbon and rye. Possibly we’ll experiment with gentle whiskey when bourbon and rye develop into boring 🙂
Due to Kenny for offering this info.
Returning to my preliminary premise: the opposite supply of optimism, for me, is the continued evolution of Ryan as a blender. As famous above, he’s obtained a pair of strong successes beneath his belt. If mixing is about particular person mastery of the artwork of taste creation, then it stands to cause that somebody (Ryan included) would possibly get higher at it with time and follow.
Name me grasping, however I’m hoping that these second batches ship every little thing that their forerunners did, plus a bit additional. We’ll shortly see if my goals come true. As at all times, I’ll be evaluating these throughout the context of Malt’s price-sensitive scoring framework. SRP stays $65 for each the bourbon and rye; please bear in mind that these have been samples offered freed from cost by C+C/Pursuit, which won’t have an effect on my notes or scores.
One closing level of order for the geekiest amongst us, or for these making an attempt to discern whether or not the bottle they see on the shelf is the primary or second batch: Pursuit Spirits has applied a batch coding system, which they describe thus:
The brand new coding system begins with the variety of the month. The next two letters are based mostly on the final two digits of the yr with A being 0 (zero), B is 1 (one), and so forth. This launch of Pursuit United Bourbon and Pursuit United Rye is 7CC which represents July 22.
So, beginning out, we’ve got the bourbon batch 7CC. As earlier than, that is 108 proof (54% ABV).
Pursuit United Bourbon (Batch 7CC) – Overview
Colour: Golden brown.
On the nostril: This leaps out of the glass with a really fairly, rounded floral observe with candy accents of powdered sugar. That preliminary impression yields to a tasty observe suggestive of wealthy sugar with an virtually burnt side, within the method of crème brûlée. This then transforms right into a butterscotch aroma by means of a crawlspace or a used bookstore, by which I imply that there’s a salutary contact of musty, dusty funk right here, in the most effective of the way. Nosed blind, I may need guessed that this was dusty Wild Turkey, Nationwide Distillers OGD, or Stitzel-Weller (actually!). There’s a barely vegetal whiff of celery that creeps in, in addition to some natural notes of lemongrass.
Within the mouth: Starting with a woody kiss to greet the tip of the tongue, this shortly evolves a citric bouquet encompassing parts each tart (oranges) and candy (ripe cherry). This picks up texture because it strikes towards the center of the mouth, taking up a mineralic side and extra taste dimensions, this time of a nuttier selection. All these parts knit collectively cohesively for a second in the course of the mouth, earlier than this strikes towards the end. There, among the burnt sugar features from the nostril come again into play, finally yielding to a protracted, fading taste of espresso beans, butterscotch, and a barely prickly tingle as a reminder of the very strong ABV.
Conclusions:
Higher than the primary batch? I ought to say so. Trying again on my notes for that whiskey, I’m struck by how rather more grown up and critical this second batch is. The nostril, particularly, presents some fascinating notes that harken again to whiskeys of yore. The spotlight although, for me, is the consistency of that burnt sugar component each on the nostril and within the mouth. This could virtually qualify as dessert bourbon, have been it not for the various spicy and stony parts that present stability from begin to end.
As earlier than, it’s a whiskey that may be sipped for pleasure and likewise thought-about significantly. I can’t wait to place this in entrance of some Critical Bourbon Individuals™ and make them embarrass themselves guessing which dusty bottle this got here out of. All in, this provides lots of enjoyable for $65, so I’m bumping up the rating I gave to the prior batch and awarding this a hearty…
Rating: 7/10
That was fairly a gap act… can rye batch 7CC observe go well with? As with the bourbon, and in keeping with the prior launch, that is additionally 108 proof (54% ABV).
Pursuit United Rye (Batch 7CC) – Overview
Colour: Practically equivalent golden brown.
On the nostril: Just like the bourbon, this is filled with character straightaway. This time, it’s the creamy and citric sweetness of key lime pie, a private favourite. There’s an identifiably rye side to this, with that grain being expressed in a yeasty, doughy kind of approach, considerably like rye bread. There’s additionally the metallic, steely sensation I affiliate with rye, in addition to a inexperienced observe paying homage to freshly mowed garden on an early summer time day. Beneath all it is a gentle, wealthy, and candy observe of vanilla buttercream. Name it the unconscious affect of the bourbon, however after leaving this within the glass for some time I begin to choose up a few of that burnt sugar, in addition to an eye-opening whiff of freshly brewed black espresso.
Within the mouth:
This presents a stern rye profile at first, with vegetal inexperienced notes and steely grain flavors upfront because the whiskey meets the lips and tongue. Then, the creamy notes from the nostril take over, carrying this up the tongue in a clean wave of oaky vanilla taste. There’s a wonderfully spherical observe of inexperienced apple in the course of the mouth paying homage to laborious candies; that is far and away my favourite observe on this (or another) rye whiskey. A bit of dried firewood taste punctuates the graduation of the end, whereby I as soon as once more get a pure rye grain observe mingled with – you guessed it – a fading taste of burnt sugar.
Conclusions:
A wonderful whiskey, a superb rye, and due to this fact a superb rye whiskey. Just like the earlier batch, this incorporates so many notes imparted by the grain and expressed with a purity and a focus hardly ever skilled. Past that, nevertheless, are a couple of notes (particularly that inexperienced apple laborious sweet) which can be charming and scrumptious. This doesn’t stray as removed from the primary batch because the bourbon did, nevertheless it didn’t should. It’s barely completely different from – however each bit nearly as good as – the rye that got here earlier than it, and it’s comparable in high quality to the bourbon. To mirror all that, and contemplating the identical worth, I’m scoring it identically.
Rating: 7/10
For those who fancy your self a bourbon or rye aficionado and haven’t but tried both of the Pursuit United blends, think about this a robust urging, from me, to rectify your omission. Ryan and Kenny have hit the mark once more with a pair of extraordinarily good whiskeys which can be completely different from virtually anything you’ll be capable of purchase off the shelf. I’m sure to be a repeat buyer, assured that whichever batch I pluck off the shelf will clear the excessive bar that Pursuit set from the start.
Photographs and whiskey courtesy of Pursuit Spirits.
