Hannah’s Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered Review
Original review written March 22, 2022
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Unique with bitterness, oak, and a good balance, it’s worth being in a collection or two. I’ll look forward to my second pour; that’s for sure. 92/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Nevada, USA
– Distillery: Nevada H&C Distilling Co.; MGP
– Classification: Straight Bourbon
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=60%; Rye=36%; Malted Barley=4%
– Casks: unpublished char
– ABV: 57.84% (115.78 proof)
– Price: $60.00 USD in Idaho (2021)
Visit nevadadistilling.com for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
I can see enjoying Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered in an old library, surrounded by equally old books. Whether it’s novels, or textbooks, or perhaps even maps, this bourbon would definitely keep you company. Its texture is like the pages, and the age of whiskey and document will only enhance one another to take you to another time entirely. Imagine classy sophistication meets rustic earth in just the best way possible.
Photo by Giammarco on Unsplash
NOSE:
This smells both spicy and herbal, with spice being the most forward. Black pepper, allspice, and rye mix with a savory herb like rosemary, to create a nose that it simultaneously fresh and rich. I find earth in these aromas as well, like hay, and a dirt that is drying out after having been rained on. There isn’t much for sweetness, aside from a stray bit of apple and maybe some bitter dark chocolate. Overall, it’s musty, and even a little leathery, but certainly still textured and interesting. There is next to no alcohol burn, which I find surprising, given its proof.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Textured. It grips at the palate and feels a little like sandpaper, which I actually find appealing.
– Balance: Solid. It’s not complex, but it’s balanced throughout, and every flavor pairs well with the others.
– Visual: A brown tawny color, this leaves behind almost a perfect inverted crown, both with clinging droplets and fasting falling legs.
– Taste: The initial impression is that this bourbon is bitter, like anise. It cloys a bit at the back of the throat and is hollow, meaning it hits, and then dissipates rapidly. It leaves a minor cloud of clean freshness behind, like citrus zest. There’s an age to this bourbon, with rotted oak and yellowed book pages. I think both of these things contribute to the bitterness as well. With them are definite nuts, like shavings of walnuts, ready to be added as a garnish.
The alcohol is quite mild and doesn’t bite at all. Nevertheless, it does warm the back of the throat considerably. This component makes the overall sip rich, deep, and much more complex than one would think. A Kentucky chew coaxes out more wood and a stray bit of dark fruit – maybe cherry, but it is fleeting. The alcohol remains unaggressive, and in this case – very enjoyable.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Long. The heat just lingers and lingers at the back of the palate and in the throat. Just lovely.
– Between Sips: Grain and wood sit between sips – simple, but not at all bad.
– No More: This certainly grows on the me the longer I sit with it. At first, the bitterness was off-putting, but now it’s mellowed, and the age is the real hero of the bourbon. I’m finding I like it a great deal more now than I did originally.
The empty Glencairn is void of the typical wood you’d find at the bottom of a glass. Instead, there’s smoke and a hint of vanilla sweetness. Again – a completely new thing to find in a bourbon, and I find myself only more and more intrigued/impressed with the originality of this pour.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Simply put, yes. I don’t think I’d want to pay $70 for it, but at $60, it’s manageable and a unique addition to the bunker.
SMOKE WAGON UNCUT UNFILTERED REVIEW RATING: 92/100
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