Dead Drift Colorado White Whiskey is the new-make spirit for what KJ Wood Distillers will one day call their bourbon. I got this specific bottle of Dead Drift Colorado White Whiskey a couple years ago in a bottle swap and while I’m never too keen on new-make, I am keen on trying new things.
In KJ Wood Distillers’ Words: Dead Drift Colorado White Whiskey
“First, find the water you want your bourbon to drift through then cast upstream to this spot. Mending your mash creates a drag free fermentation, your grains imitating free-floating, real nymph. Casking bourbon will allow time to sink flavor deep into the profile before it gets to the targeted stretch or bar.
While our blue corn bourbon gets the knack of casking, you and your nymph, while not creating a drag, can manage your line well enough with our Colorado White to set the hook.”
Looking at their site, KJ, lists a Bourbon (Dead Drift Colorado Aged Whiskey) and the label has gone from mostly gray and white to being fully colored. They also no longer list the Dead Drift Colorado White Whiskey under their Spirits section. Though it does show up on the background of their homepage. I don’t quite know what to make of that so let’s ignore it and dive into the Dead Drift Colorado White Whiskey review!
Dead Drift Colorado White Whiskey Info
Region: Colorado, USA
Distiller: KJ Wood Distillers
Mashbill: at eats 51% corn + rye + malted barley
Cask: None
Age: 0
ABV: 50%
Batch: 1
Bottle: 42
Year: 3/14
Price: $50
Dead Drift Colorado White Whiskey Review
EYE
Clear
NOSE
Corn, vanilla, minerality and an alcohol spirit kick.
PALATE
Pine-like herbal, vanilla, Sprite, corn, minerality and waxy candy.
FINISH
Short drop of pinery herbal, Sprite, vanilla and corn.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not balanced, light body and watery feel.
OVERALL
Dead Drift Colorado White Whiskey isn’t a daily drinker and isn’t something I’d recommend anyone pick up unless you’re doing it to support the distillery while they’re getting their aged bourbon ready. However, as far as new make goes, it’s not terrible and shows some promise to create a nice sweet sipping bourbon if it’s properly aged in large barrels for 4+ years. Will they actually do that? Your guess is as good as mine; they have released a “bourbon”, but their site is severly lacking in information.
SCORE: 74/100 (C)
