Generously_Paul
Virginia Lightning Corn Whiskey
Corn — Virginia, USA
Reviewed
June 20, 2019 (edited August 31, 2019)
Due to Michigan laws concerning the shipment of alcohol to private residents, I’ve had to route most of my purchases through my friend @LeeEvolved in Virginia. A few months ago one such purchase landed on his doorstep. He had a few samples to send me as well so he opened the box and added them. He realized there was enough room in the box for another full bottle and gave me a choice. Either a bottle of the Macallan Classic Cut 2018, or this un-aged corn whiskey. Well, I’d already gone through a bottle of the CC and wasn’t that impressed, so I went with the Virginia Lightning. Let’s see what I got myself into.
So this “moonshine” is un-aged as I said previously, in fact the back of the bottle proudly proclaims “Less than 30 days old”. It’s bottled at 50% ABV and has no color as it spent zero time in any type of wooden container, and I would guess that it is chill filtered but I have no real info one way or the other.
The nose is strong, and, if I’m being nice, unpleasant. If I’m being truthful, it’s terrible in a way I never expected. Corn...rancid corn swimming in butter and butterscotch. Bile, rotten vegetables with a sickly sweetness. Old funky salsa verde and pickled pearl onions. Really really cringeworthy.
The palate actually arrives somewhat sweet with savory corn and butter, but quickly turns utterly revolting. Bad corn, butterscotch, a general harshness and a light metallic note.
A light bodied mouthfeel that is thin and tongue coating.
The finish is medium short with that rancid corn and alcohol.
Well clearly I made the wrong choice. This stuff is absolutely revolting neat, and equally bad over ice just slightly colder. I tried adding in some grenadine to mask the flavor and it went from terrible to just plain bad. Biggest waste of my money in recent history and it was a gift! Lee told me he paid $25 for this bottle. That’s about $28 too much. I can say with some certainty that this is the worst whiskey I’ve ever had. Please avoid.
Cheers
25.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@jonwilkinson7309 personally I think Eagle Rare was funnier, but this was pretty hilarious too
This whiskey may deserve a "5" simply because it inspired the most hilarious YouTube whiskey review in history.
@The_Rev I think I forgot to send over a shipment...was my turn last we left. I’ll look up your address in my inbox and send over a few things in 2-3 weeks.
To borrow from George Jones, it sounds like pappy's corn squeezins weren't mighty mighty pleasin'...eesh.
@WhiskeyLonghorn you should check out the Abhainn Dearg and Girvan 1988 27 yr old
I’m enjoying the trend of long, entertaining reviews of truly terrible whiskies coming up lately. Always good for a laugh!
@Generously_Paul I think @LeeEvolved is signaling to start up SDT again, but this time concentrating on the much under appreciated sector of moonshine.
At least they had the honesty to put a swill bucket on the label
Haha, great review. Oh well at least it was a unique experience :-)
that's the distinct sound of an under aged "green" product, such a shame distillers or their boss's are in too big a hurry to get juice in bottle to sell, well before it's time.
Don’t you bad mouth the finest ‘shine the Appalachian mountains has to offer. Your palate is clearly off tonight, my friend. FUN FACT: this is also from the same distillery, Belmont Farms, that is contracted to produce Tim Smith’s moonshine from the hit TV show “Moonshiners” on A&E. Let that bottle oxidize, Paul- and come back to it. I think you’ll have more thoughts about it then. Cheers, and by the way, you’re welcome! 🙂🙃🙂🙃🙂
No, no—-I’m good. I barely made it out alive after the Girvan and Abhainn Barf 🤮
@PBMichiganWolverine yes absolutely worse than Girvan. If you want some I’d be happy to send you a sample
Worse than the hated Girvan? Is that finally dethroned?
Nice review. That sounds pretty bad. I’ll heed your advice. Cheers!