The Basics: 

Doc Swinson’s Distillery (sourced from MGP)

Release 20-001

115 Proof - NCF

5 Year Age Statement 

$50 MSRP 

Nose:

Tart cherry, Lucky Charms marshmallows, honeysuckle, light mint, clove, and some green oak. 

Palate: 

Cherry Coke, charred peaches, tannic oak, and clove. 

Finish:

Medium finish with cinnamon sticks, dark chocolate, and light syrup. 

Final Thoughts:

The newest addition to Doc Swinson’s Blender’s Cut series is their 36/21 straight bourbon whiskey. The 36/21 designation comes from a blend of two different bourbon mash bills, one with 36% rye and the other with 21% rye. Each of these whiskies is aged for a minimum of five years, and is run through a Solera cask system of sherry and cognac casks. That is a lot going on in one whiskey, but the real question is how does it taste? The nose comes out strong with tart cherry and honey, accompanied by a sweet candy smell that reminds me of Lucky Charms marshmallows (not the boring cereal part). Cherry notes continue onto the palate in a much darker and richer way than the nose, similar to a cherry Coke, along with a nice charred peach kick. The finish on the whiskey was a tad shorter than I expected for 115 proof, but brought a nice dark chocolate flavor. Overall, I am really impressed with this whiskey. The combination of whiskey aged for at least five years, higher proof, and the Solera cask system bring a rich dark fruit note that I think most people would thoroughly enjoy!