Hannah’s J Henry Patton Road Reserve Bourbon Review
Original review written on September 3, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
J Henry Patton Road Reserve Bourbon Review: Very different in an explosive way from the 5 YR from this distillery. Fruity, spicy, floral, it makes for an excellent and enjoyable pour. 92/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Wisconsin, USA
– Distillery: DSP-WI-15005, 45th Parallel Distillery
– Aged at: J Henry & Sons
To a- Classification: Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: 7 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Red heirloom corn=60%; Heirloom winter wheat=14%; Heirloom spooner rye=14%; malted barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3 (after 2 yr stave seasoning and light barrel toasting)
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 59.75% (119.5 proof)
– Barrel No. 55; Bottle No. 74
– Price: $104.99 USD in Wisconsin
For more information, visit jhenryandsons.com
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian. Towards the bottom of the glass, we pulled out some Wisconsin style Parmesan cheese. Definitely worth it!
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
With the warmth and explosion of this 7 YR bourbon, I easily see sipping this in a park, surrounded by people on picnic blankets. Look up at the night sky and enjoy a bright and colorful firework show with 7 YR in one hand and some quality cheese in the other.
Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash
NOSE:
Woody and sharp floral scents hit my nose straight off, with an undertone of fruit leather (of a dark stone fruit), and brown sugar. Despite being of higher proof, the alcohol is not overbearing, rather, it’s pleasant and brings an extra warming factor to the glass. Further draws coax out white pepper and ginger – the ginger reminiscent of the punch you’d get in a gingerbread cookie.
Soft and sweet corn melds with traces of vanilla, making the overall vibe of the pour complex, warm, and ever-so-inviting. How different this is already from its younger brother, J Henry & Sons 5 YR!
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Effervescent. Pops like a firework while being soft in body.
– Balance: Fruit heavy, but there is sufficient spice to keep it interesting.
– Visual: Honey in color, there is barely a crown with many clinging droplets. Closely packed legs drop quickly.
– Taste: This starts with a firework of warmth and alcohol tickle, which falls into an equally punchy floral element. It almost seems rosy. The ginger is still here from the nose, but it seems to have a light vanilla as its dancing partner in the palate. Still, the white pepper didn’t fade, mixing with perhaps a green grape quality.
Nothing about the palate seems particularly dark to me – it’s bright, exciting, and very complex… I can almost taste the syrup found in a fruit cup, backed by enough alcohol burn to not be sickly. Instead, it’s incredibly delicious.
A Kentucky chew on this Wisconsin bourbon elevates the once-subtle white pepper/green grape combination, while not burning too intensely. It leaves the salivary glands working overtime long after the sip. Very pleased and am still in shock only two extra years in the barrel can do this to the original 5 YR.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Long. While the warmth doesn’t disperse everywhere, it and the flavor won’t abandon the tongue.
– Between Sips: The fruit cup juice, particularly grapes stick around and leave a fruit-flavor-profile-lover like me in absolute heaven.
– No More: Consistent throughout the glass, which I really appreciate. We brought out some Wisconsin style Parmesan cheese to have with this pour, and the two greatly complement one another.
The empty Glencairn is a sweet and pleasantly sugary oak… I love this bourbon quite a lot, I’ve decided.
WORTH THE PRICE?
I hesitate to say that anything over $100 dollars, is truly worth it, but given the natural rarity – being a single barrel – and being purchased from a Non-ABC state (check out our Vocab sheet!), I could be persuaded to buy this again. I think it’s bright, fun, and very fruity in its sweetness, and there isn’t much more I could ask.
RATING: 92/100
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