Tag: Brian Dawson

Brian’s Border Bourbon Cask Strength Review:

reviewed 29-August-2022

BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH REVIEW:

Border Bourbon Cask Strength (Border CS) is a fine bourbon, one I wish was readily available to me in Idaho. Aromas of roasted corn, blackberries, and dark dried fruit along with spices of dark cinnamon and sweets of woody caramel pass to the palate. This is a well blended bourbon with a solid oak foundation. If you are in the upper midwest, find and secure as many bottles as you dare.

BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH VITAL STATS:

Category: Small Batch Cask Strength Bourbon
Region: New Richmond, WI
Distillery: DSP-WI-15005, 45th Parallel Distillery
Stills: German-made copper (three)
Master Distiller: Bob McKenzie
Barrel Construction: Three year air dried Ozark white oak staves from McGinnis Wood Products
Mash Bill: 62% corn, 12% rye, 12% wheat, 14% malted barley
Barrel Char: #3 (Medium char)
Barrel entry proof: 117
Age: nas (but 5 years minimum)
ABV: 60% (120 Proof)
Price: $59.99 (at the Wisconsin Distillery in 2022)

45^th PARALLEL’S “FULL CIRCLE” OF LOCAL PRODUCTION

_{In 2007, 45th Parallel became one of 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.}

_{^{— Learn more at 45th Parallel Distillery.}}

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

Taken out of the newly opened bottle, the first one and a half ounces mixed with the bourbon in our Infinity Bottle Project. Then, by alternating the pours, four once review amounts went into three Glencairns. My daughters and I enjoyed the bourbon neat as we prepared this review.

Check out Hannah’s and Elora’s reviews for this bourbon!

BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH NOSE:

When Border CS is first brought to the nose, there is little if any burn. I smell roasted corn and wheaty grain. But fruit abounds as ripe blackberries, dark plums, and dark dried prune fruit leather waft from the glass as spices of dark cinnamon, faint ginger, white pepper are mixed in dark wheat bread. Sweets come in as rich vanilla, sweet brown sugar but woody caramel, and light molasses. There are a few faint toasted pecans here however sweet, old seasoned oak and smoky sweet barrel char blend with ashes and musty wet leather to give this bourbon a wonderful nose.

BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH PALATE:

The first sip of Border CS gives a warm but comfortable bite. I taste roasted sweet corn and fresh tobacco, then come blackberries, plums, dark dried fruit leather, and soft prunes. Each sip brings more as spices of cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper tickle and sweets of rich vanilla, brown sugar, nearly burnt woody caramel, and like sensed on the nose, light molasses treat the tongue. There is a touch of bitterness, like hazelnuts, but the flavor is not off-putting. And as noted above, seasoned heavy old oak, smoky sweet barrel char, ashes, and musty wet leather round out the flavors.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
While there is a bite (owing to the 120 proof), Border CS is creamy and viscous as the tongue is tickled although the wash is fairly easy to hold. This is a solid and well blended bourbon. As the pour is sipped, a long-lasting solid crown ring forms, then thin legs break to transport the dregs quickly back to the terracotta pot colored pool.

BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH FINISH:

Border Bourbon Cask Strength has a long and lingering finish with a pleasantly warm burn. In the finish, traces of roasted corn blended in acidic berries, plums, and dried prunes fade in and out. My tongue tingles with ginger and black pepper as woody caramel fades with seasoned heavy old oak and barrel char. The empty Glencairn smells of bourbony oak and is almost as good as each sip.

MY RATING: 92/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
If you find yourself in the Midwest, secure as many bottles as you dare.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 92/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

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WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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