Middle West Spirits Michelone Reserve Wheated Bourbon

My avoidance of this (and any “craft” bourbon, really, until trying Tom’s Foolery for the first time (and loving it)) goes back to the time OYO was populating the shelves at my local. Then Little Fish dropped one of my top 10 imperial stouts (and #1 most revisited) of 2020, Barrel Aged Batch 300, which was aged in barrels that held this bourbon. I couldn’t ignore this bottle any longer. I lament my previous dismissal. The nose is both layered and concise. It’s velvety (if a collection of smells can even have a texture, but it’s already a point in a bourbon’s favor to induce synesthesia), exuding aromas of cream pie, shoe leather, Cracker Jacks, and cedar in fragrantly harmonious proportions. Cedar notes come forward on the palate, supported by caramel nougat and a light, softly smoky char that rides itself out into a (I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna say the forbidden word) smooth finish. A promising first impression has deepened into a lasting affinity as I’ve sat with this bourbon over the past week. There will be a bottle of this on my shelf for as long as I can find it and I won’t be glossing over Middle West in the future.

[Early 2011] It all started with a Groupon... "Come learn how to make whiskey." A buddy and I received these from our SO's as a Christmas gift and went down to have a breakfast (with whiskey) where we made a mash, tasted profiles, and took home some bottles - including this one. Not a bad whiskey but was never something special. The story is probably cooler than the dram. Sweet logo, good family heritage, good people. And since have worked up some solid liquor I keep on the shelf. But their gem is vodkas and this reserve whiskey is just part of the standard lineup for me. Raw, woody, like Evan Williams Single Barrel. Harsh polyphenols that almost make you think of cleaning agents. It's a good whiskey but not their best. And for the price not something I keep around. Last bottle I bought was in 2014 for a bachelor party whiskey bracket. If you've never done one of those, do it.

Really does it for me with the oak, dried fruits and especially the pumpernickel and brown sugar finish that lingers on your palette. I don’t think this pour gets enough recognition and the expert score is surprisingly low IMHO. I usually am pretty much on board with the reviews. I usually buy a backup bottle on pours i truly love. This one may deserve two!!

I am a big fan of Wheated Bourbon! This one is brown sugar and fruit on the nose. On the palate a delicious blend of dates, figs and a maple crème brûlée. No hug to speak of but definitely an easy delicious sipper!! I got one bottle on a trip back home to Ohio and regret not getting more

Batch 75. Copper colored. Almost like a Mitchers nose: vanilla, honey, peanut on the nose. Not very sweet, but the honey and toast flavors in the mid palette, great body, slightly viscous, medium length finish. Unique flavor profile.

Batch No. 75. Purchased 5/25/2023 for the Charlestown SP campout bourbon share. Pretty good stuff, would probably re-purchase this one. Will look into some of their other expressions based on this release.