Tastes

A bit more fruit forward than your standard 10yr in a great way

Originally reviewed for The Whisky Tribe (lazy copy pasta of my own review) Texas sure makes a magnificent bourbon. This being from Indiana, the Redemption is pretty close to an Eleanor but still has that new make sweetness ontop of the “Eleanor walnut” note. On the palate, it’s buttery at first then a nice blend of young whiskey tastes and mild barrel spice follows. The buttery note lingers slightly, the new make sweetness sours, then it and the spice notes slowly ramp up and just reside on the tongue and roof of the mouth. I enjoy it but I think it’s because I’m thinking of another, lady Eleanor. The Redemption says no less than 2 years in the barrel and the Eleanor most on my mind was 37 months so I assume that’s close enough for a good comparison, though Eleanor probably had more time in the barrel. This wasn’t as high a proof as Eleanor either but with the prominence of the new make notes I don’t think a higher proof would help. Wish the rando liquor store I popped into didn’t mark it up as high as they did but it’s doing its job perfectly so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

First pours were just amazing. I cant wait to see how it opens up. On the nose, immediate warm brown sugar and little to no phenolic smells at all. Very surprising with the 59%abv I could smell this for days. After first sip the lightest hint of fruit comes through. Proofed down, a pepper note covers the brown sugar and seems to just make it a brighter nose all together. On the palate, a slightly sweet deep wood note that is followed by a now creamy brown sugar maltyness (reminiscent of the butter note pot still Irish has) and finishes with a very inviting hot heat instead of a spicy heat which I was anticipating. The high abv shows itself in the end of the finish with phenol taste residing in the throat. Palate doesn’t change too much on second sip, you’re just more ready for the woody goodness. So tasty and heartwarming I don’t want to add water lol but for science I must. After proofing down, it starts with a bold creamy feel with the wood notes expressing themselves more individually but residing in the cream. The hot finish has subsided and a soft creamy brown sugar warms the back of the throat. Phenomenal whisky. Dangerously tasty.