Corsair Mosaic Review

Corsair Mosaic is a single malt whisky, made by Corsair, that’s been vapor hopped with mosaic hops. The vapor hopping means no hops are actually included in the whisky mashbill, but instead the essence of the hops is transferred into the whisky during distillation. The distilled vapor, which will be called new make after condensing, works it’s way up the still and through a vapor basket suspended towards the top. A similar process to making gin when using a gin basket to suspend botanicals in the head.

Corsair Mosaic Info

Region: Tennessee, USA

Distiller: Corsair
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley (vapor hopped)
Cask: New charred oak (15 gallon barrels)
Age: NAS (typically age for 5-10 months)
ABV: 46%

Price: $50

Corsair Mosaic Review

EYE
Burnt Sienna

NOSE
Waxy, grapefruit rind, grain, saw dust, brittle and a bit of furniture polish. It’s an interesting whiskey and overall the aroma is a bit light.

PALATE
Grapefruit, clove, grain, cinnamon, saw dust, citrus peel and some light notes of cocoa and furniture polish. The palate is a bit more robust and that acetone tang (furniture polish) is less noticeable on the palate.

FINISH
Short with light notes of citrus oil, cocoa and mint.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Manages an odd balance, medium body and has an oily feel.

OVERALL

Corsair Mosaic is an interesting whisky. I like things about it, I don’t like things about it and I like and dislike those things in equal amounts and so I’m left feeling a bit unsatisfied and also a bit angry. Angry because I can’t write a positive review, angry because I can’t write a negative review and angry because I can only write a “meh” review. However, unlike the Galaxy, I do seem to like Mosaic Hops.

The beer I chose to sip on while reviewing my notes and writing up the formal review was the Karl Strauss Mosaic and it’s a lovely beer. Lots of bright crisp grapefruit heavy citrus notes and a lovely richness throughout. I can honestly say in this circumstance that I like a mosaic beer a lot more than I like a mosaic whiskey.

The palate and the oily texture on the Corsair Mosaic are the only things that were mildly interesting and kept it from being a C+ whiskey. They’re the parts of the whiskey I enjoyed and brought this strange balance to the whiskey that’s me left in a borderline C+ / B- stalemate. In the end I’m giving the whiskey the benefit of the doubt and giving it the B-, but know that it’s on the low end of the spectrum. As is always the case though, others at the tasting felt differently.

SCORE: 80-82/100 (B-, consumed at a tasting)