Why is it so damn cold in Kentucky this weekend?! Oh well, it’s good for barrel proof bourbon by the fire. Today I’m tasting the @smokewagonbourbon Uncut Unfiltered. Smoke Wagon has made a big name for themselves with great blending techniques of their MGP sourced whiskey. Their recent distribution into KY has me very excited that I no longer have to order online and pay the shipping cost!

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Smoke Wagon is sold by Nevada H&C Distilling but the bourbon is sourced from MGP. The company was started in 2012 by a couple of guys who met at a bar, then ran a bar together, and then decided to build their own distillery in the middle of Las Vegas - look up the story of Aaron Chepenik & Jonathan Hensleigh sometime, cool dudes. Though they source from MGP, they do age and blend the whiskey on-site at their Nevada distillery. Their way of differentiating themselves in the sea of MGP sourced brands is to blend older aged barrels with more sweetness and oak to them with younger barrels that the Nevada dry heat has brought out the high rye spice in. In turn, they create a harmonious balance of sweet, dry oak, and spice to the bourbon. The Uncut Unfiltered is, as the name obviously suggests, their barrel proof offering that is dumped straight from the barrel without any filtration or proofing down.

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Stats: NAS; 113.9 proof; 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley; $65 (2021)

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Verdict: The pour starts as advertised with the caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar sweetness coming through. Then the dry oak and spice pop but not as intense as I would have imagined given the barrel proof status and the typical spice that comes through for high rye MGP. They’ve done an excellent job taming this. As it finishes more brown sugar and oak linger for a pleasant lasting taste. As far as it’s place in the Top 5, I’m placing it at No. 4. With that said, it’s REALLY splitting hairs and a true matter of profile preference between this, Bulleit, and Four Roses. Personally, I love the sweetness and tamed spice that this brings compared to the other two and that’s why it lands above those.