Elora’s Border Bourbon Cask Strength Review
original review written August 29, 2022
ELORA’S BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This bourbon is a sweet pour that gives immediate comfort and warmth. Although there are not a whole lot of herbal, floral, or nutty elements to it, the mellow sugars and fruitiness help make it absolutely worthwhile.
BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH VITAL STATS:
– Catagory: Small Batch Bourbon
– Region: New Richmond, WI
– Distillery: DSP-WI-15005, 45th Parallel Distillery
– Stills: 3 German-made copper
– Barrel Construction: Three-year air-dried Ozark white oak staves from McGinnis Wood Products
– Master Distiller: Bob McKenzie
– Mash Bill: 62% corn, 12% rye, 12% wheat, 14% malted barley
– Barrel Char: #3 (Medium char)
– Barrel Entry Proof: 117
– Age: minimum 5 years
– ABV: 60% (120 Proof)
– Price: $59.99 (at the Wisconsin Distillery in 2022)
Learn more at 45th Parallel Distillery.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed this bourbon alongside my sister, Hannah, and father, Brian, while listening to acapella cover songs featuring singers with wide vocal ranges.
Click Hannah and Brian to read their views!
MUSIC SELECTIONS FOR BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH:
Music is a big part of my life, both playing and listening and there are many songs I love. As I appreciate a bourbon, songs compliment the dram. The following pieces came to mind as I sipped this pour.
“Photograph” by Ed Sheeran
– Ed Sheeran; May 9, 2015; Ed Sheeran, leader; X (Multiply), album
Swan Lake, Op. 20, Act II: No. 10, Scene. “Moderato” by Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
– London Symphony Orchestra, September 15, 2018; Pierre Monteux, conductor
For me, this bourbon captures the feeling of fondness and infatuation. “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran showcases these feelings because it speaks of how a couple’s love for one another is showcased in all the photos taken. It also gives the comfort that even though there may be future conflicts, their relationship will remain strong. For the Swan Lake excerpt, the forbidden love between the cursed swan maiden, Odette, and a prince named Siegfried is demonstrated in the sugars and warm spices in this bourbon. Although the both of them meet their demise in order to break the swan maidens’ curse, their love for one another stays strong and true.
BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH AROMA (19/20):
Oak is a prominent scent on the nose with tart rainier cherries encasing it. There is also a heavy red wine element that seems to ensure the fruitiness of the bourbon. Notes of various candies like sour patch kids, jolly ranchers, and Mike-&-Ikes are present as well. While the aroma of this is proving to be very fruity overall, hints of ginger, allspice, cane and brown sugar, and vanilla extract add to the sweetness. It should also be stated that there are a few grains that help provide a subtle, yet solid backbone to the drink’s aroma.
BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH FEEL, BALANCE AND VISUAL (14/15):
– Feel (5/5): It is very smooth and creamy in the mouth, and it settles nicely in the chest. It is very warm in the heart, almost like it wants to threaten a Kentucky hug.
– Balance (4/5): The flavors blend spectacularly with one another, and while this is a very good bourbon, it is heavily influenced by sweeter tones. There are not a whole lot of herbal, floral, or nutty elements in this.
– Visual (5/5): There is a defined crown that has long skinny legs which are relatively spaced from one another. The color of the dram is mahogany.
BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH TASTE (23/25):
There are more sugary notes than fruity ones in the actual flavor of the bourbon. Charred marshmallows, golden caramel, vanilla, and toffee can be detected. Maraschino cherries, pomegranate, berries, candied peaches, and candied oranges are present and offer a strong fruity tone. There is a subtle note of oak that helps support the sweetness of the bourbon. A hint of gingerbread and banana bread can also be found in the taste, and both flavors help to mellow everything out in an incredibly pleasant, warm flavor.
BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH FINISH (19/20):
The warm feeling in the chest lingers for a long while and is able to simultaneously provide comfort. The taste of cane sugar and candied fruits linger in the mouth for a considerably long time; it would not be out of the realm of possibility to say that it lasts for a full minute. It was a pleasant feeling and taste for the entirety of the finish.
BUY AGAIN / WORTH THE PRICE (20/20):
For $59.99, I would most certainly say that this is worth the price. This is a fantastic bourbon, and I would be more than willing to splurge on this. (10/10)
I would absolutely get this again. I have had many bourbons over the last few years, but I can definitely say that this one stands out for me. Absolutely fantastic! (10/10)
BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH RATING: 95/100
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Elora’s Border Bourbon Cask Strength Review
written August 2022 by Elora Dawson
Reviewer, Writer, WhiskeyfortheAges.com
Each review will include a couple musical excerpts; one representing my musical career in a classical setting, and the other from more mainstream genres. I hope you enjoy your whiskies with my music selections!