Iron Smoke Straight Bourbon

I spied the Iron Smoke Straight Bourbon in the minatures display at Total Wine, and...why not? This is rumored to be a four grain bourbon (Iron Smoke doesn't disclose the mashbill, but I found the four grain info elsewhere on the Internet, so it must be true), but it comes across as almost completely corn based.     The nose is sweet - caramel and butterscotch, with some pecan nuttiness. The palate starts corn and vanilla, before getting pulled under by a wave of ethanol.  Mid-palate, there's are some subtle notes of mint and grass.  Then the ethanol returns, slow fading to butterscotch.  About five seconds into the finish, the ethanol fully disappears and there is a nice and slightly complex sweetness left.  Although it's not a particularly strong whiskey at 40% ABV, the ethanol on the palate is disproportionate to the remaining flavors. Jim Murray allegedly loves this whiskey (https://bit.ly/2PxobFZ), but it didn't grab me. I often like young spirits - if they're not too harsh, they can have a nice flavor profile (albeit not particularly complex), while being a bit edgy.  In this case, however, I'm partial to the argument that more time in the barrel might do wonders.  As it stands now, I'd recommend several other whiskeys over the Iron Smoke if you're looking for a younger corn bourbon.  Hudson Baby Bourbon and Balcones Baby Blue, just to name two.

Vibrant gold and copper body with lots of medium speed legs. Nose shows the apple wood smoke immediately. Plenty of fresh oak and a hint of vanilla and pecan. Musty, earthy character and a grassy note sneaking in there, too. Lots of barrel, accentuated by the smoke, but not overly charry. Medium to soft mouth feel coats the mouth with a sweetness and helps to carry the flavor. Short to medium finish that leaves more smoke and a return of the vanilla and apple wood. The wheat shows on its own, outside the smoke Deep and earthy, it shows the youth, but is still quite pleasant. Neat idea and a nice take to a traditional bourbon.

A balanced, Straight Bourbon Whiskey by Iron Smoke Distillery in New York made with a corn, rye & barley mash bill. The grains used in production are exposed to applewood smoke in much the same way that Single Malt Scotch can be exposed to peat smoke. Finally, it is matured in triple charred virgin white oak casks before being bottled. It has a delicate birth with hints of caramel, butterscotch & savory; while an elegant life adds notes of charcoal, oak, spices, vanilla & toasted marshmallow; that led to a dry & complex death with notes of red fruits & a hint of sweet applewood smoke. June 2020

Hopefully it was an off batch! A complex, Straight Bourbon Whiskey by Iron Smoke Distillery’s in Fairport, New York. Crafted using ingredients from American farms, water from the glacier-formed Finger Lakes & a whisper of sweet apple wood smoke. It has an aromatic birth with notes of grain, wood, fruit & spices; while a rich & thin life adds notes of sweet corn, wheat, vanilla, caramel & butterscotch; that led to a long & complex death with notes of damp hay, day old popcorn, oak & apple wood smoke. January / August 2022

Flaviar 03/22 Blind Test A - [ ] Pours nice and smooth - no bubbles - [ ] Color is a light medium amber - [ ] Nose is nice - dark fruits and a hint of chocolate - [ ] Honestly, tastes like sewage water. Taste is grassy with a lot of barley - almost like a Scotch or single malt. Some butterscotch undertones. - [ ] Upon reveal, the SMOKE and ASHY-ness really stands out - [ ] 2.25 - would not buy

A very simple dram that gets the job done. Nothing really to see here except the nice label that the bottle has. Bottled at 40%abv. On the nose: toffee and caramel. Nothing else. Not bad, nothing special either. On the palate: very sweet caramel with hints of spices. Aftertaste is bitter, with prunes and kind of ashy. Overall this is a regular dram, 61/100 is a fair score for it.