Is it just me, or has the search for the "next best whiskey before something better comes along" culture worn you out, too? As consumers muddle their way through an oversaturated market of rushed releases and mediocre whiskey, I've found independent bottlers to be a saving grace, a breath of fresh air, and a much-needed voice when it comes to discovering new craft distilleries.
With the whiskey boom slowly dipping after a herculean presence the last few years, Goliaths like Brown-Forman and Buffalo Trace will undoubtedly be the ones left standing, with nary a scratch on them, other than a few unfavorable reviews, perhaps. I can't help but wonder, has the next best thing, whatever that means these days, stopped living up to the chase? I believe it has, to a certain extent, which is why it is more important than ever to lift and praise those whiskey producers honoring the process of patiently crafted whiskey. Without a consumer's commitment to the craft of well-made whiskey, the old ways of making whiskey may cease to exist. Luckily, there are still plenty of craft distilleries around pumping out whiskey for us to try. I urge you to continue to pour from a bottle of craft whiskey as much as you can, as I have for this review.
Blackfork Farms is a 6th generation farm located in Brandt, South Dakota. With locally grown grains, a double pot distilled process, and barrels made from three-year-air-dried staves, they stand by their motto: "premium grain, premium stills, premium barrels." Their technical approach and use of heirloom smoked corn sets them apart from the crafty crowd. Also, their rye mash bill is the same one George Washington used, which is pretty darn neat in my book and perhaps a future review one day soon. For this review, I had the pleasure of exploring a single barrel straight bourbon whiskey.
Thanks to Two Souls Spirits for providing this sample. I'm grateful for the continued opportunity to review their products and am excited to dive into this latest release. So, let's get to it, shall we?
Company on Label: Two Souls Spirits featuring Blackfork Farms
Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: 57% corn, 25% wheat, 5% German rye, 13% malted barley
Proof: 124°
Age: 6 years
MSRP: $89.99
Further Identification: Distilled from 100% South Dakota grain, this four grain bourbon features applewood smoked heirloom corn
Nose: Right out of the gate, this nose is creamy and viscous with a distinct cinder and soot. Like a flash in a hot pan, the aromas change to freshly dipped caramel apples on a wood stick and warmed asphalt. It may sound strange, but I'm enticed by this complexity already! Hints of dark chocolate, the super dark 90% bars, come in next and the hardened bits of brown sugar you would find in a bag that doesn't get used often for baking. Deeper inhales produce a wet and damp quality, like a summer rainstorm pattering down on the streets in a small town surrounded by corn fields. I'm utterly captivated. After a taste, I am pleased to find barrel funk. A good thing, in my opinion, to smell the craft in craft whiskey. This funk smells of sweet caramel chews and the dredges of tea leaves at the bottom of a day-old tea pot. I also find browned apple slices and whiffs of smoke from a burnt-out cinnamon-scented candle. Late in the glass, aromas seem to settle into the trifecta of what makes this bourbon unique—apple, smoke, and corn. The empty glencarin smells of incense ash, antique oriental rugs, and dried wildflowers.
Palate: Thick and creamy with a dough-like quality that dances across the tongue. I'm finding moist apple muffins, caramel dipping sauce, and whiffs of smoke from an open fire in a springtime backyard. Another sip ushers in sweet cinnamon sugared popcorn and ash from a cast iron wood stove. This finish toes the line of acidic, like biting into a fresh, crisp granny smith apple. The linger is a bit metallic in taste, which may be the smoked corn at play. Further sips taste like milk duds melting on your tongue after a meal of smoked meats. This pour is taking me to summer fields filled with corn and a warm breeze dancing across bare legs. The flavors are well-balanced, and the proof is not too overpowering. As the liquid grows low in my glass, I'm held in a lovely hug of smoky cinnamon.
TL;DR: complex and captivating, this pour will reinvigorate an adoration for well-made bourbon!
Rating: 4/5
This craft distillery is one my worn-out whiskey soul needed to explore and taste. Will this exploration serve as a much-needed reinvigorated view of the landscape of whiskey? Maybe. At the very least, I feel inspired to share this bottle with anyone willing to try it, a feeling similar to recommending a captivating book. And that, for me, says something.
