Mellow Corn Bottled in Bond Whiskey

I reviewed this whisky back in May of 2022, but what with one thing and another hadn't had it since, and after almost two years of practice, I'm far better equipped to evaluate Mellow Corn than I was then. And so I'm doing another review. I'm not certain what the mash bill is. One source said that it's 80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% barley. A couple of other sources said that it's 90% corn, with the remaining 10% consisting of rye and barley. I do know that it's at least 80% corn, because that's what the US government requires, but right now I wonder if anyone outside of Heaven Hill knows what it really is. This bottle cost me $17.99 at the Kelly Liquors store in the Mountain Run shopping center. There's no age statement on the bottle, but this is a bottled in bond whisky so by law it must be at least four years old. Due to the legal requirement that corn whisky age in either new uncharred barrels or used charred barrels, it doesn't pick up a lot of color from the wood, and is straw colored in the glass. NOSE: A note of sweetness without any specific sweet item is the first thing I got. Then came musty corn, a slight lemon sourness, and caramel with vanilla. MOUTHFEEL: Creamy. TASTE: On the palate this juice begins with a definite honey note, the cinnamon, and then through repeated sips I got banana candy, lemon, sweet corn, and a little bit of oak. FINISH: The finish is long, beginning with a sweet note, merging almost immediately into cinnamon, some sweet oak, and finally a lingering spice note. SUMMARY: This whisky surprised me, when I paid attention to it, with how complex it is. Now it's not very complex - it's actually a simple whisky - but it's less simple than I expected to find. I'm glad I decided to review this again, because two years ago I could never have gotten all this from the juice. Even though it is a simple whisky, due to the rules governing corn whisky, it's a tasty one. As a bottled in bond whisky it's 100 proof, but if I didn't know that, I'd never guess it. It doesn't assault you with alcohol on either the nose or the palate - it's indeed a mellow whisky that drinks like it's 10 or 15 proof points lower than it is. It is definitely worth the price, and it's a very affordable price. [edit] When I posted this I forgot to include my rating, so I've come back and will insert it below. RATING: On my hick scale it's the fifth (counting from the bottom) rating, Good. This is equal to 3.125 stars, 62.5/100, and 6.25/10.

CORN WHISKEY SHOWDOWN: Balcones Baby Blue vs Mellow Corn In some respects, corn whiskey is bourbon’s “purer” older brother. The mashbill for corn whiskey has to be at least 80% corn (compared to at least 51% for bourbon), and there is neither an age nor barrel requirement. Straight corn whiskey has the same mashbill requirements, and must be aged in new or used oak barrels for at least two years. Balcones Baby Blue is labeled Corn Whisky (no “e”), while Mellow Corn is labeled Straight Corn Whiskey, with the addition that it is Bottled in Bond, which means that it’s also 100 proof and aged four years. Balcones Baby Blue (3.75): color of clear turbinado sugar. Breakfast nose serves up maple syrup, Jiffy cornbread, cinnamon, buttered toast, and a whiff of bacon. On the palate, there is some initial heat, followed by brown sugar and vanilla, with lingering vanilla on the finish. Balcones is a distiller that I’m paying more attention to; I recently reviewed their Texas Pot Still bourbon and liked it. Mellow Corn (3.25): bright gold color. Nose offers subtle green banana, summer grass, light butterscotch, light oaky vanilla and ethanol. There is a light glycerin mouthfeel, with a little more heat than the Baby Blue (consistent with the higher 100 proof), some vanilla, and white pepper and vanilla on the finish. I’m 80% done with this bottle, but it’s a nice change of pace to go downmarket and experience other American whiskies. I’ll keep a bottle on hand. I’ll bet it goes well with my pecan-smoked pork butts and Brunswick stew. And I love the 1940s-era label. Balcones Baby Blue is definitely the more complex and nuanced of the two, and is available for around $35; but Mellow Corn is a higher proof, and while not too complex, drinks well and is widely available at roughly $15. While it is usually found on the bottom shelf at the liquor store, it drinks far better than most bottom-shelf whiskies. And while it’s arguably monolithic, so is Compass Box Hedonism (reviewed yesterday) for 8-10x the price. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Mellow Corn is a rare gem in the whiskey world—one of the few Bottled in Bond corn whiskeys still widely available. It embraces its heritage with a bold yet approachable profile, offering a nostalgic sip reminiscent of classic American whiskey before bourbon took the spotlight. Mellow Corn delivers a buttery sweetness with just enough bite to keep things interesting. At around $20, it’s a must-have for anyone looking to expand their palate beyond the usual suspects. Not to mention its cult following on Reddit- check out r/mellowcorn. Nose: Sweet creamed corn, honey-drizzled Jiffy cornbread, and roasted peanuts. A light floral note with hints of fresh oak and a touch of spice. Palate: Buttery and full-bodied upfront. Sweet corn dominates, with notes of honey and baking spice. The 100-proof presence gives it a slight peppery edge without overpowering the sweetness. Finish: Medium in length, leaving behind a warm mix of vanilla, oak, and lingering corn sweetness. A hint of nuttiness and pepper rounds it out, making for a pleasantly balanced fade. Mellow Corn is a whiskey that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s sweet, bold, and undeniably unique, delivering a simple but satisfying experience that punches above its price point. Whether you’re sipping it neat, on ice, or mixing it into a cocktail, this one is always a good time! Makes an excellent old fashion paired with Nixta Corn liquor.

Sweet & spicy! I’ve been reluctant to purchase this Mellow Corn for years. Nonetheless, while taking a Tasting and History Tour at Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, I succumbed to the encouragement of the employees and promo videos to taste Mellow Corn. I have to admit this is a VERY solid High Corn whiskey. At 90% corn and the remaining 10% a mix of rye and barley, I submit the Bottled In Bond feature of this whiskey causes it to be a solid corn-forward whiskey at a very reasonable price! I really enjoy it!

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Pale yellow. Nose: Creamed corn with a bit of sweetness, but not overly sweet. Palate: Some cinnamon, plenty of corn, not very complex. Finish: Medium length, medium heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 6/10 - This could be a good cocktail base at 100 proof. Tasted neat, the complexity that you'd expect from a bottled in bond whiskey just aren't there. Better choices exist, even at less than $20.

It feels improper to tag this with buttery as the term, but when I’m drinking this I keep getting a buttery popcorn flavor that makes me want another sip. It is incredibly sweet and for the price/proof point it is really nice! If you are curious what it is like to drink a creamed corn whiskey, this is it. It tastes like corn! I could imagine this being much better with some age on it, as I get a slight rubber note on the finish, but overall it is really nice!