Scott_E
Liquid riot old port straight bourbon whiskey, Portland Maine
Bourbon — Maine, USA
Reviewed
November 1, 2019 (edited January 14, 2020)
My neighbor who frequents Maine provided me with a sample of this single malt. Some details:
Batch: 10
Bottle: 149
Aged: 2 years 3 months
Abv: 45%
What the labels specifies is that they craft their spirit “with an American twist; American cherry wood smoked barley. This smoky spirit is aged in small oak barrels that previously held American bourbon. Surrounded by the salty sea air of Portland’s Old Port, this whiskey is American through and through.” Sounds enticing, almost Islay-like (or Skye). But the youthfulness will be the weakness. Always fun to try something unique, close to home and a part of Americana.
A slight maritime brine with stone fruit sweetness is an immediate introduction. Some time opens a medicinal, sterile quality comes through along with some black licorice. Longer still, apricots seeps through along with bananas with some butterscotch sweetness.
A lightweight, watery feel on entry brings a glimpse of sweetness that flashes spicy and tingly. That’s all feel, but the flavors are sparse and evasive. A very earthy and mineral flavor are primary. In no particular order: cinnamon, pickled ginger, oak char, caramel, leather.
At the end of it all leaves the palate oaky, dry and a small amount of caramel sweetness; all but for a glimpse.
The age, or lack thereof, is the inhibitor. There was not enough time in the box to pull any true flavor from the cask as well as begin to form any real identity. Maybe, as well, weak cask aren’t able to push any flavor into the distillate. This holds the beginnings of something positive, but as it stands, is incohesive, youthful, and short on flavors. [80/100][Tasted: 11/1/19]
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@Rick_M Things are falling back to normal. Crazy end of summer; so many things came crashing at once. Now, if only NY can field a good football team (take your pick, both are terrible). Waiting for spring and a NY Mets World Series/2020. And hopefully prices form the tariffs doesn’t crush the working man. Thanks for asking. Hope all is well with you.
@Rick_M - haha I don’t deny you need some very thick blood to make it up there! At least I have the whisky part down.
@geologyjane - that’s why we grow our women tough up here. They need to brave the cold and tolerate a little whisky drinking. :)
@Scott_E - nice of you to throw in a little plug for the NE Patriots....thank you! How’s things going down your way? :)
Having been to Maine and experiencing the bone-chilling cold you get even it’s not in the dead of winter, I would imagine this whisky is repelled from the wood most of the year unless it’s in a cozy, climate-controlled warehouse. Brrr! I’m cold just thinking about it!
@Rick_M Lol. After tasting this, I would have to agree with you. I still root for the underdog but the favorite almost always wins (hence being the favorite).
@Scott_E - I love Maine and the chunk of shack we own on its rocky coastline, but if I’m gonna buy American whiskey, it’s coming out of Bourbon County. Just like the pretty little bottle of full proof 1792 I picked up recently. Best leave whiskey making to the experts. :)
Nice neighbor :-). I scored a bottle of Glenfiddich 12 from mine for helping her out recently