Daniel Davis
Review: Dread River Straight Bourbon Batch 1
Nose
Grain, light vanilla bean, freshly sanded oak, a touch of pine, fresh baked bread, and youthful scents are the first notes that come to mind when taking a whiff of Dread River’s Straight Bourbon Batch 1.
Palate
The palate of Dread River’s Straight Bourbon Batch 1 largely feels muddled, with generic and unrefined notes of bland oak, watery vanilla, dough and white peppercorn coming through.
Finish
The finish brings familiar notes of oak and baked bread, and ends with a pop of peppercorn spice that lingers on the tongue.
Uniqueness
Being the first bourbon distilled in Birmingham, Alabama in over 100 years, Dread River Straight Bourbon Batch 1 certainly offers a unique experience that hasn’t yet been perfected.
Value
Thanks to the youthfulness of the bourbon, drinkers should temper their expectations when it comes to quality and linearity. As such, the current value of Dread River’s Straight Bourbon Batch 1 isn’t quite on par with what one would expect from a more aged bottle.
Overall
The first bourbon distilled in Birmingham, Alabama in over 100 years, Dread River Straight Bourbon Batch 1 is a reminder that all whiskey journeys need to start somewhere. For Dread River, their Batch 1 Bourbon is just that, a starting point, and a good one at that. With its youthful, unrefined notes, Dread River Straight Bourbon is an enjoyable sip, albeit one that needs a bit more time to perfect. As it stands, the bourbon does show promise and could possibly develop into a delicious elixir, making it well worth a shot for the adventurous drinker
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Dread River Distilling Company
Distillery: Dread River Distilling
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 90
Age: 2 Years
Mashbill: 60% Corn, 30% Wheat, 10% Malted Barley
Color: Light Gold
MSRP: $53 / 750mL (2023)
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Dread River’s Straight Bourbon Batch 1 may not be the most refined or complex bourbon out there, but it speaks to the potential of this newly revived distillery. It’s a good starting point for their whiskey journey and shows promise for future batches to come. While it may not be the best value at the moment, it’s worth trying for those curious about the first bourbon distilled in Birmingham in over a century.
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Overall, this review highlights the unique and promising qualities of Dread River’s Straight Bourbon Batch 1, while also acknowledging its current limitations due to its young age. It encourages readers to give the bourbon a try and acknowledges its potential for development and improvement in the future.
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Overall, Dread River Straight Bourbon Batch 1 offers a unique and promising experience for adventurous drinkers. While it may not yet be on par with more aged bottles, it serves as a good starting point for the Birmingham distillery. With notes of oak, bread, and peppercorn, it shows potential for development and is worth a try.
Seeking something new.
Dread River Straight Bourbon Batch 1 offers a promising start to a new bourbon brand, with a unique nose and potential for refinement. While it may not yet have the complexity and maturity of more aged bourbons, it’s still an enjoyable sip and worth trying for those looking for a new and distinctive bourbon experience.