Sampling whiskey and bourbon expressions from a reverse Oregon Trail Whiskey Tour, from the West Coast to Kentucky, with a quick stop in Canada.
I did not come up with the tasting lineup order from Gordon’s DTX’s Whisky Wednesday, butI really appreciated its symbolism.
The brands consisted of American whisky samples from west to east, with a hook north into Canada before plunging south into Kentucky. A sort of reverse Oregon Trail Whiskey Tour, if you will.
Cleverly arranged, to be sure.
Some new expressions, some repeats
Of the whiskey expressions below, I've reviewed the Westland American Oak and the Pinhook Straight Rye (although not their Straight Bourbon Whiskey).
The rest were new to me which made for a nice discovery of whiskey. On to it, then!
North American Whiskey & Bourbon
Hosted by Gordon’s DTX, May 22, 2019
Breckinridge Straight Bourbon
Tasting Notes
- Nose: caramel corn, light baking spices, very light citrus
- Taste: soft entry, light body, sweet caramel corn, then baking spices slowly rise a dryness
- Finish: long finish of cinnamon sugar, some astringent dryness
- Comments: very approachable
Bainbridge Battle Point Organic Whiskey
Tasting Notes
- Nose: butter toffee, brown sugar
- Taste: starts sweet, but leather enters, toasted grains and herbs
- Finish: doesn’t linger, brown sugar coats the tongue
- Comments: nose different from taste, interesting flavor that veers away from what I expected from the nose
Stranahan’s Single Malt Whiskey
Tasting Notes
- Nose: ferns, lime, forest after a rain, barbecue sauce
- Taste: barbecue sauce, brown sugar candy, black pepper
- Finish: long finish with black pepper, brown sugar cinnamon
- Comments: great nose, great flavor; really caught me off guard, unique
Westland American Oak
Tasting Notes
- Nose: evergreens, brown sugar, cedar shavings
- Taste: cedar, cinnamon, pine
- Finish: lingers on pine and caramel
- Comments: consistent quality for me, tastes like it’s from Seattle (evergreen)
Gooderham & Wort Four Grain
Tasting Notes
- Nose: light nose, rye dominant, caraway
- Taste: rye, brown sugar, cinnamon red hots
- Finish: doesn’t linger, spice donates, sweetness fills in
- Comments: spicy and sweet, nicely balanced
Pinhook Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Tasting Notes
- Nose: corn sugar all the way
- Taste: starts soft then rises quickly into cinnamon spice and white pepper
- Finish: lemon peel peeks out at the end
- Comments: alcohol really takes over; with water, lemon, cloves, ends with menthol..much better
Final Thoughts
This west-to-east lineup of whiskey and bourbon was fun to sample, and all offered something a little different. I encourage you to take the tour yourself!
I hope you like this review! If you've tried any of the expressions and have your own tasting notes, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy
Jonathan says
Congrats. Mythica sounds like a cool idea.
scotchscones says
Thanks!