Isaac Bowman Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Barrels
Bourbon
Isaac Bowman // Virginia, USA
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Milliardo
Reviewed May 20, 2019 (edited December 10, 2020)This is in the port-finish/other-finish division of my finished bourbon bracket. Quick recap of the sherry-finished blind taste tests so far: Joseph Magnus vs Noble Oak: Joseph Magnus won. Wild Turkey Revival vs Rabbit Hole: WT Revival won. Joseph Magnus vs WT Revival: WT Revival won. This next round is the two that inspired this whole event: Isaac Bowman vs Angel’s Envy. After that is Amador Double Barrel vs Jefferson’s Grand Selection, followed by Jefferson’s old rum cask vs Beer Barrel Bourbon. Did I mention that this is for science? So off the bat... I like both of these whiskies. This was the most effective blind taste test to date. I wasn’t 100% sure which was which until I flipped over the cup. I was correct, but it was close. I came in with a believed preference toward Isaac Bowman, and good ol Isaac persevered here. The nose: Watermelon and sangria. Next to Angel’s Envy, the deep red fruit scents are amplified. The body: Sangria, and for the first time (back to back with AE), I get orange. Like a delicious sweet orange flavor. Body also packs more heat when compared, but I don’t mind. The finish: Sangria flavor trails off, with a bit of almond. The almond is new to me, brought out by the AE. It’s encouraging to me that Isaac won. By popularity, a bit of an underdog. By cost, it’s cheaper (first time doll hairs =/= value in this bracket). At the risk of sounding hypocritical, (because I just mentioned how Revival beat Magnus because I preferred a subtler sherry influence), when it comes to port, it turns out more influence is better for me. I feel like the underlying bourbon of AE may be higher quality than that of IB, based on tastes theoretically not affiliated with the port finish. But damn... that sangria flavor. The sweet orange. This little guy may be in the conversation for the most underrated bourbon of our time, IMO. Can’t wait to see what the next competitor brings out of it in the next round.35.0 USD per Bottle -
FoolsCastle
Reviewed May 11, 2019It’s good, but for $10 more I’ll stick to Angel’s Envy for my port finished bourbons.39.99 USD per Bottle -
Scott-McCammon
Reviewed April 20, 2019Basil Hayden dark rye started me on a port finished bourbons. You immediately smell the fruit from the port. You also smell the alcohol a bit more than I’d prefer. Neat there is some burn that hurts the tasting. Adding ice dilutes the alcohol smell but there is still a burn on the swallow. There is a nice smooth body to this whiskey. I can get a small taste of caramel but a lot of spicy. I do not taste the fruit you smell. Overall a bit more burn and spicy than I’d prefer and not the best aftertaste. -
Stuhendricks1
Reviewed April 18, 2019 (edited April 23, 2019)I’ve had a bottle for a few months now. When I first opened it, I didn’t think much of it. After the 3rd or 4th poor this dram really opened up and delightfully surprised me. Nose: oak, barrel sweetness, slight vanilla and cherry note. A red wine/caramel finish rounds off the nose. Taste: port wine influence comes out the gate fast, dark fruits and oak barrel sugars dominate the beginning. Cherry and cinnamon dominate the mid pallet. The finish is mildly oaky with a tinge of vanilla and caramel. Hands down the best Virginia dram I have had to date. -
BDanner
Reviewed April 18, 2019 (edited May 20, 2020)APPEARANCE: Amber tending toward a reddish hue. A quick swirl formed slow moving thin legs. NOSE: Opening the bottle almost smelled like popping the cork on a bottle of red wine. Nosed in my Glencairn I found notes of Oak, Dark Fruits like Raisin and Prunes, Green Apple, and Red Wine with a Savory Slightly Sour note. NEAT: Oak Heavy and Sweet. Red Wine, Vanilla, Cherry Coke, Raisins and Slightly Bitter Tanins. Only slightly warm on the finish with Sweet Oak and light Black Pepper Spice fading to Sweetish Red Wine. SPLASH: Gives the palate an almost applesauce note. Made the oak a little more sour on the finish. I definitely like this one better neat. VERDICT: I liked my second pour of this much better than the first. I think some air really opens it up. This was my first wine barrel finished bourbon. Reasonably priced, and different enough to make this a repeat buy. 4 STARS.40.0 USD per Bottle
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