Ironroot Harbinger (115 Proof)

Ironroot Republic Harbinger Bourbon 2019-B 115 proof 27 months aged It’s no secret to anyone that knows me, I’ve been a total fan boy of Ironroot whiskies since discovering them near two years ago. Their Harbinger Bourbon has reigned supreme as my favorite bourbon since the first sip and this expression does not disappoint in the least. This is the 2019-B...the winner of the World Whiskey Awards Best Bourbon of 2020. Digging into this one it’s not hard to see why. The Likarish Bros learned some of their distilling arts under the tutelage of Hubert Germain-Robin, the famed California Cognac maker. They have translated that style to their Texas whiskey. And, the Harbinger, is what I would describe as the Armagnac of Bourbon. From the nose to the palate, the mouthfeel to the finish; this is a brandy drinkers whiskey. Yet, it’s got that Texas influence of funky oak character that sets it apart. Nose: Your nostrils are greeted with a punch of ethanol intertwined with the sweetness of macerated grapes. Sweet vanilla frosting, buttered corn, petricor, warm caramel popcorn, dusty feed sack and brown sugar. The nose is rich and deep and there’s a lot to dig out. Spend some time over the glass and it will reveal nuances like: fruit salad with coconut and a splash of Cava, dry straw bales, grape Nerds candy, apples in cinnamon butter and cloves, candied lemon peel, Assam tea and honey. Palate: Dense, velvety, rich. And it packs the mids like Rich Robinson in open G tuning playing the opening riffs of Black Moon Rising. It’s all as dark and brooding as the song! Grilled sweet corn, elderberries, honey butter, muscadines, grape skins, raspberries with cream coconut on sponge cake, black tea with honey and a squeeze of lemon. On the swallow, that Texas oak vanilla tops it all off. Finish: Erupts in black pepper spice and a punch of proof. There’s a twinge of smoked habanero heat. Flambéed apples over vanilla ice cream and rubbed mint, worn leather, and sweet oak char round out the long and astringent finish. You really don’t want the ride to end. It’s absolutely delicious but it also commands your attention from the first nosing until 20 minutes later and the lingering notes of the oils that still cling to your cheeks remind you to take another sip. It’s an absolute beautiful marriage of heirloom corns and oak cask. Synchrony, harmony, the distillers and blenders art on full display. Texas has made its mark on the whiskey world but that train is just leaving the station and picking up speed. Come and taste it is their mantra...and yeah, you better.

I have been working on this bottle for three weeks and it just keeps getting better. I get the typical Carmel and spice but there is also a licorice flavor that is nice. Good spicy finish! I really like this Texas Bourbon!

I've heard great things so I went into this with high hopes. Those hopes were crushed like a poorly constructed schooner on the rocks of my taste buds. Dramatic? Maybe, but we'll deserved. The nose falls flat. Mostly alcohol and a tad bit of caramel corn. On the palate it's light, very alcohol forward. Hints of the caramel corn on the nose, a little bit of vanilla, then it falls flat on its face. It's finish is short and unfulfilling.