Did you hear we are interviewing Aaron Chepenik from Smoke Wagon on the Spirit Animal Society page tonight? Tune in live at 8pm EST on 11/22/2021 to ask him some fun questions with us! I am getting warmed up tonight with a freshly cracked Batch 63. After this review and during the live I will be continuing through my enjoyment of Batch 49. Let me know in the comments if you want to try Batch 49!
Company on Label: Nevada H&C Distilling Co
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Proof: 112.4°
Age: NAS (Undisclosed blend of 4 to 12 year old bourbons)
Further identification: Batch 63, bottled May 14, 2021
Nose: Mmm, chocolate forward and instantly bursting with that rich caramel I've come to expect out of Smoke Wagon offerings. Very level, apparent and approachable oak quality to this... This feels like a bit of an older blend on the first nose. Dried dates and an herbal plum. Dry leather, slight pepper and peanut brittle. This has a great funk to it on the nose I always enjoy; similar to what I dig about Booker's batches. Citrus is trying to squeak out from a heavy, dusty corn profile. After a sip, things shift much more towards the wood grains with sawdust and walnut shells presenting sharply on the left nose. Vanilla bean, dry tobacco leaf and heavy butterscotch now. There's a peanut shell that feels crushed under a large piece of oak. The tannic fruit bunch has returned strongly to the glass now - nice undulations of different profiles here. The empty glass smells of leather, sawdust, dark chocolate, coffee grounds, and vanilla sugar cookie.
Palate: First sip is pure silk! Cherry forward mouth feel. Wow, that went down like candy for a first sip of the day. Thick, salty caramel rises up from my chest long after the sip. Chocolate malt and a thick mouth feel are welcome additions to the linger here. A large sip and swish results in a slightly tannic fruit medley of plum, raisin and dark prunes. There's a heaviness to the flavors, but an incredible lightness to the mouth coating; this batch is certainly an easy sipper. Taking this glass outside briefly drastically mellowed out the intensity and built up the richness of the caramel. It's amazing what a little temperature change can do to a pour. Honey now is quite sweet! Leans in towards an Earl Gray hot toddy now. Yum! My last sip is starting to build in the heat department and brings with it sweet raisin, molasses and tiramisu.
Rating: 4/5
Solid pour! Looking forward to sharing this with guests around a fire and seeing how it develops with a little air time.