This Bourbon was produced at Union Horse Distilling Co., a distillery founded in 2010 in the Kansas City area. This is a small batch whiskey made from a sour mash recipe of corn and rye and distilled in their Vendome-made copper pot still. Union Horse Distilling uses a barrel entry proof of 110 and ages their barrels in a non-climate controlled barrel house. This whiskey was sent to me by the Distillery and according to their accompanying materials is over 5 years old. Matt and I recently sat down and tasted it. Here are our tasting notes.
Union Horse Distilling Co. Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Proof: 92
Age: NAS
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel, chocolate, plums, apricots, a hint of baking spice and oak.
- Matt: Citrus, caramel and orange peel.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel, plums, apricots, nutmeg and oak. Tasting a dried cranberry brings out more caramel and lessens the fruit notes. Tasted with a pecan brings out the chocolate and cinnamon spice.
- Matt: Orange, caramel, cardamom and black pepper. The dried cranberry brought out dark chocolate notes and orange slice. The pecan brought out notes of chocolate, black pepper and gave the whiskey an oily, viscous mouthfeel.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak and spice. The dried cranberry enhanced the oak and spice with lingering caramel. The pecan made the finish longer with oak, cinnamon and lingering chocolate notes.
- Matt: Oak, citrus and black pepper notes. The dried cranberry enhanced the oak and black pepper notes and brought out sour orange. The pecan brought out pepper, dark chocolate and oak in the finish.
I would pair this Bourbon whiskey with a Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Maduro. The rich, smooth earthy notes of the smoke would pair well with the fruit flavors I experienced in this Bourbon.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller