Hannah’s Border Bourbon Cask Strength Review
Original review written on August 29, 2022
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
If you ever see this dark flame of a fruit gem, buy it, and then buy a spare. Complex, rich, deep, fruit, warmth. This is what bourbon should be, full stop. 97/100
VITALS:
– Made In: New Richmond, WI
– Distiller: DSP-WI-15005, 45th Parallel Distillery
– Classification: Small Batch Bourbon
– Age: nas (but 5 years minimum)
– Mash Bill: Corn=62%; Rye=12%; Wheat=12%; Malted Barley=14%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 117 proof
– ABV: 60% (120 proof)
– Prince: $59.99 USD in Wisconsin (at 45th Parallel)
“In 2007, 45th Parallel became one of the only 50 Craft Distilleries in the United States.
45th Parallel’s process is a full circle local production and begins when we pick up grain from Rusmar farm. We then mill, mash, ferment and distill it all within our facility. Afterwards, the grain is shipped to another local farm where it is used as feed for livestock. Naturally, the livestock turn the grain into fertilizer for next year’s crops.”
Visit 45thparalleldistillery.com for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the spirit neat from Glencairn glass with sister, Elora, as well as father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out Brian’s review of this bourbon here!
Check out Elora’s review of this bourbon here!
SETTING:
I imagine sitting under a pergola with this bourbon, sun trickling in but not feeling overbearing. Add in some misters along the edges of your shelter, and any heat around you, melts solely into the glass. The world is giving you a gentle hug – rather like an arm casually wrapped around a shoulder. It doesn’t feel invasive – simply making you feel included and warm. Border Bourbon, in fact, erases borders of any kind.
Photo by zekkotek on Unsplash
NOSE:
Warm caramel greets the nose with campfire marshmallow, but the sugary sweetness is quickly met with dark fruits that seem just shy of overripe. I can’t pin down the exact fruit, but even the nose, it feels as though I’ve had a blackberry or cherry burst in my fingers from too much pressure. Deep floral tones are present here also, contributing a softness like a petal to the aroma. I can find oak, but like much of the remaining nose, it’s a sweet oak. It melds with the rest of the sweetness almost too perfectly (but you won’t catch me complaining).
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Oily, oily, viscous, and oily. This coats everything in the palate in a film of warmth and sweet.
– Balance: Though the sweet is heavy, everything feels balanced between it and the sugar and fruit.
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, exceptionally long legs cling to the side of the glass, and they simply will not disappear.
– Taste: While I can let this sit on my tongue for some time without feeling aggravated by the alcohol, the sheer warmth makes me want to move along with the sip to get to the next part of it all. The sweetness is a molten caramel that seeps into the palate and makes everything feel alive. A rich rose follows along with a sinfully sweet pomegranate. The seedy fruit is overripe, removing the tartness and only creating deep sweetness. Ripe blackberries chase the flavors to the back of the palate, sweeping all of the flavors together into one brand of warmth and juice.
This bourbon does not need any enhancing, but the temptation to provoke it with a Kentucky chew overwhelms. The sting of heat absolutely burns the tip of the tongue, but it evokes more fruit juice that seems to coat everything on the palate in a fruit syrup. An oak foundation only makes every bit of the burn and flavor last longer.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Exceptionally long. It’s been minutes since I’ve taken a sip, and I still know that I’ve recently had this bourbon on my palate.
– Between Sips: Oak is most prevalent here between sips. giving something to chew on while pausing. The heat never leaves either, hugging each corner of the palate and making the oak and a little bit of fruit, stay alive.
– No More: This only grows in intensity the further into the glass I get. At this point, I’d rather just set this review aside and enjoy the rest of my glass. It’s just hot bourbon packed with darkness and fruit – what’s not to love?
The empty Glencairn is a surprising, clean oak. The warmth that was on the palate isn’t as forward here at the bottom of the dram, but I’m actually not too bothered by this. It gave its everything to the actual sip, and that’s how it should be. That’s not to say there isn’t oak, or even a hint of sudden spice present, but this tulip glass did bloom exclusively for the consumable pour.
WORTH THE PRICE?
At $60, buy, buy, buy. What an absolute steal for a bourbon that hits so much higher than its price. This easily falls into one of the best values of its price category without me even having to think about it. If I lived in an area where I could readily purchase this, I would never be without. Ever. For those who may struggle finding this bottle (our local friends), imagine an even more elevated Old Forester 1920.
BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH REVIEW RATING: 97/100
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