Today’s bourbon review is the Bluebird Distilling Four Grain Bourbon which joins other more-than-three grain whiskeys like E.H. Taylor Four Grain or the Laws Four Grain Bonded. Like many other four grains out there, it combines the core 4 grains of Ameican Whiskey: corn, rye, wheat and malted barley.
Though having four grains isn’t what first caught my eye about this whiskey… it was the label. Specifically, the back label which states it’s “aged in new charred oak barrels less than four years”.
Is it 3 months or is it 3 years? Who knows and that’s why misleading and ambiguous statements like this were outlawed by the TTB not too long ago. Curious about why this label was carrying this now banned (TTB FAQ S11), I reached out to the distiller and we had a chat.
The long and short of it is that it was approved before the ban, they’ve had it for years. But they’re changing it on the next label update which will be carrying a full age statement. He also let me know the bourbon on the shelves today is a blend of 2.5 to 4-year-old whiskey aged in a mix of 10-gallon, 30-gallon and standard 52-gallon barrels.
Bluebird Distilling Four Grain Bourbon Review: Details and Tasting Notes
In Bluebird Distilling’s Words:
“Typically Bourbons are produced w/ 3 kinds of grain (Corn, Rye & Barley) or (Corn Wheat & Barley). We chose to use all 4. Corn, Rye, Red Winter Wheat & Barley. When put into oak wheat adds sweetness/mouthfeel & rye adds additional spiciness. Using 4 Grains we have created a very full flavored, balanced Bourbon w/ great rye spice.”
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Pennsylvania, USA
Distiller: Bluebird Distilling
Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 20% Rye, 10% Red Winter Wheat, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak (10 to 52 gallons)
Age: 2.5 years
ABV: 46%
Price: $55*
Tasting Notes
EYE
Light caramel
NOSE
Woody, stale nuts, raw grain, Play-doh, dark cocoa and river water.
PALATE
Woody, Brazil nuts, raw grain, Play-doh, dark cocoa and a touch of caramel and spice.
FINISH
Medium -> Woody and a touch of spice and cocoa.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not balanced, medium body and a light oily feel that turns dry.
Bluebird Distilling Four Grain Bourbon Review: Overall and Score
Smells and tastes like most other young craft whiskeys out there. The Aroma is raw and woody with that sawdust smell that is so prevalent in young craft whiskey; Palate carries the same but picks up a bit of spice; Finish is a muted expression of the palate.
There is promise here, but I think it might take the Bluebird Distilling Four Grain Bourbon longer to reach a level of “standard maturity”. What takes 3-4 years in KY, TN and IN seems to take 3+ years outside of these states. Think about distilleries like Wyoming Whiskey whose 3-4 year whiskey wasn’t very good, but once it hit that 6+ range became delicious. Environment is a massive factor in whiskey maturation which a number alone can never capture.
SCORE: 1.5/5
*Disclosure: This bottle was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this bourbon review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Bluebird Distilling Four Grain Bourbon Review $55
Overall
1.5- Nose (1.5)
- Palate (1.5)
- Finish (1.5)
- BBF (1.5)
User Review
0 (0 votes) Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)Bluebird Distilling Four Grain Bourbon Review Summary
This is interesting and shows promise, but it’s quite raw and woody right now. I’d love to try this after more time, and in standard barrels. I bet it will be delicious.
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