Oak & Eden Wheat & Spire - Fired French Oak

Bottle’s been open a while but still nearly full. Generous pour into a snifter. My first taste from the bottle was quite enjoyable, so let’s see what it’s like in detail… Pour in the snifter (generous as it is) looks deep copper verging on amber, which is unexpected. On the nose, an interesting aroma something like cherry cola, robust but not overpowering. But there’s something else too… almost eucalyptus or menthol, and with a faint mustiness. Some vanilla and maybe a touch of oak after some time. But I keep coming back to the cherry cola note undergirded by faint eucalyptus or menthol. Interesting. On the palate, enters with sweetness and red hots, some heat, and a light cherry note a la maraschino. Chewing through more sips yields some robust clove spice verging on cinnamon, and a hint of that eucalyptus or even menthol from the nose. Maybe some subtle cola notes. Red hots and light cherry remain consistent throughout. Note the wood influence is by no means overpowering for my taste. In the finish, the gentle burn fades quickly, but warming notes of red hots linger and mingle with some true cinnamon for an overall medium-length. Trails off with some subtle bitter oak. Overall, a cinnamon-infused cherry cola with subtle herbal notes and some mild burn throughout. I really enjoy cinnamon and spice, so this appeals to my palate while standing out from many other bourbons. The very high wheat component in the mashbill is interesting and must contribute to this effect. So, while better overall bourbons are available in this price range, this certainly stands out as a unique and interesting offering, especially as a study of wheated bourbons and the pronounced effects of wheat on the overall product. Maybe more time in the bottle will allow the French oak to exert more influence as well. But an enjoyable pour nonetheless. 3.75/5

I’ve had a couple of Oak and Eden expressions, and thus far and one has been good (Bourbon and Vine) and one so-so (Bourbon and Spire). The experiment continues; is this whole “spire” thing a gimmick or is there something to it? Read on… I rarely comment about the color of a whiskey as I’ve had dark whiskeys that taste young and light ones that taste aged, but it does bear mentioning that for a two year old bourbon, this has a really dark color. Could be a good sign? On the nose, getting dark fruits in the form of black cherry, plum, and…pomegranate? Also getting caramel, slightly overcooked gingerbread cookie, oak, and smoke. Fairly aromatic for 90 proof and quite pleasant. Palate actually has a lot going on. Fruits are there but brighter than the nose; apple and pear, sort like a canned fruit cocktail. Gingerbread (or at least the ginger) from the nose present as well. Caramel and barrel (spire?) char ride continuously underneath. Flavors aren’t particularly rich, but there’s complexity there. Finish features cocoa powder, cake frosting, and baking spices (more ginger but also clove and cinnamon) and goes for a little longer than you’d expect and by that I mean “medium” because I expected short. Mouthfeel is where the youth finally cannot be hidden; it’s pretty grainy and adds a sharpness to the finish otherwise not present in the flavor profile. Overall I found this to be a surprise that punches above its weight class. There’s a depth of flavors here that you would never guess is 2 yr old MGP, which means the spire is doing…something. At $50, it’s right on the verge of a rebuy for me. On one hand, there is definitely better out there for the price. On the other, good wheaters are truly hard to come by and I’d say this qualifies. A rebuy if no other better wheaters available.

Very seldom do I taste a whiskey that I have trouble reviewing. This is one of those. I am simply unable to discern any tasting notes other than bitter charred oak after repeated tastings. I will agree with another review that this kind of reminds me of Maker's 46 (one of my favorite everyday pours), but where 46 toes the line between just right and over-oaked and tannic, this one runs by that line like it's not even there. There is a hint of vanilla on the nose. Maybe some coffee and brown sugar? The Palate is all Bitter Drying Oak. Maybe with time I could find something else, but I really don't want to invest anymore time on this. A little water does cut the bitterness some, but it doesn't bring any other notes out. At best his tastes like mediocre craft whiskey. Why would anyone spend $40 on this when Maker's 46 (ugly new bottle and all) is probably less than 5 feet away on a nearby shelf?

Part of a virtual tasting with Oak & Eden Batch B028 Nose - Cherry Vanilla Coke, dried berries, acetone, clove, allspice, white pepper, sharp oak spice, and light ethanol. Palate - Birch beer, sarsaparilla, molasses, toffee, baking spices, cocoa powder, and sweet oak tannins. Finish is medium-short with saturated oak spice, clove, allspice, toffee, and light ethanol. This has a lot of rich, craft soda flavors on the nose and palate, but overall I don't see myself grabbing a second glass. The bourbon is a more classic toasted flavor while this is unique and maybe a paired dessert whiskey.

(Batch 0035 / Bottle 0871 / 90 Proof) It is a complex, Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey crafted by Oak & Eden Disitilery in Texas following traditional distillation & aged for at least 3 years in American Oak barrels. It is then finished in bottle with a spiral-cut piece of fired French oak fashioned from the same species & treatment as barrel oak. It has an aromatic birth with notes of grain, fruit, wood & spice; while a rich life adds notes of wheat, candied fruit, caramel, oak & vanilla; that led complex death of medium length. January 2023

This reminds me of marker mark 46. It’s pretty good. I was surprised. Nose: is typical wheated bourbon with a spice kick. Carmel, brown sugar, vanilla with that toasted oak Palate: toasted bread and more toasted bread. The more I drank it all those toasted flavor came out. The graham cracker crust and marshmallows. Overall: it’s really a good pour. This was my first purchase and man I really am enjoying this one. At 90 proof it’s goes down easily. Cheers.