Wildcatter Bourbon is a throwback to the short lived bourbon label created by Glenn “King of the Wildcatters” McCarthy who was a notorious Texas oil barren, but told through the lens of a rough-neck oilman Billy Banks (presumably for legal reasons). “Billy” didn’t actually own a distillery, but sourced his whiskey and put his label on it… exactly like Elite Brands have done here.
While it’s not very likely their whiskey came from the same source (a lot of distilleries have closed since the 1950s), at least they’re going about it the same way and being honest about it. Though we don’t know who the source of the whiskey is because as EB tells it they “bought the barrels of 8 year old bourbon allocation on the open market and the suppliers do not disclose the distillery where it is produced.” So also like the old Wildcatter, its source is a mystery.
To find out more about “Billy” check out this article by the Texas State Historical Association.
Wildcatter Bourbon Info
Region: Kentucky, Bourbon
Bottler: Elite Brands
Cask: New charred oak
Age: 8 years
ABV: 45%
Price: $30 – $35*
Wildcatter Bourbon Review
EYE
Brassy copper
NOSE
Dark fruit, caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, spice, wood and sweet cream. It’s a classic bourbon aroma with some underlying complexities from the dark fruit and dark sweets that are quite pleasant.
PALATE
Caramel, wood, vanilla, dark fruit, spice, oily nuts and dried apricots. The dried apricots are interesting and all-in-all it’s a solid “standard bourbon”. I could sip this one all day long with no issues and like the aroma there’s an underlying complexity that brings me back for more.
FINISH
Long, spicy and woody with a bit of sweetness.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great balance, a full round body and a lightly syrupy texture.
OVERALL
Wildcatter Bourbon is a good whiskey. It comes together nicely and is a good example of a solid sipping bourbon. The underlying complexities in the aroma and palate keep the senses busy and over the course of writing and editing this review a 1/4 of the bottle disappeared. If those underlying complexities came out bolder it would punch Wildcatter up to the next level, but even as-is it’s not boring and comes in at a decent price for an 8 yr. bourbon making it a decent value as well. I honestly don’t have too much to complain about here.
SCORE: 87/100
*Disclosure: This bottle of Wildcatter Bourbon was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
