Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon
Photo Courtesy of Cedar Ridge Distillery.
This sample was provided by Cedar Ridge at no cost. All opinions are my own.
Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon: Specs
Classification: Iowa Bourbon Whisky
Producer: Cedar Ridge Distillery
Grain Bill: 74% Corn, 14% Rye, and 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 105º (52.5% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: Iowa
Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon Price: $59.99
Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon: Tasting Notes
Eye: Grade A maple syrup. Thin, barely-there rims, thin legs, syrupy drops.
Nose: Lemon bars with maple syrup. Strong black tea, a touch of tannin. No proof, mild oak, warming from the second barrel. Burst of baking spices led by gentle clove. Dark, charred wood sugars.
Palate: Alcoholic creme brûlée topping, burnt sugar and a modest proof burn on the front half of my tongue. Maple or turbinado sugar. Cola sweetness and baking vanilla open next, as do orange candies. Mouthfeel is silky and moderately heavy, like a duvet for the tongue. Proof prickle goes to the mid-tongue and settles, cola and cane sugar surge late.
Finish: Cream soda or root bear (somewhere in between) with cane sugar and a slightly bitter charred sugar edge that I love. It keeps the sweetness in check without making the entire pour bitter. stays coating, if thinly, on a medium-length finish.
Overall: A solid double barrel bourbon, well done. Drinks right at or slightly below proof, sweeter side of bourbon without losing the bitter edge of a creme brûlée. The more I drink it, the more I enjoy it. Only improvement would be a bit more mouthfeel - the flavors are there and mostly balanced, I just want it to last longer on the tongue.
Final Rating: 7.7
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary
8 | Excellent | Exceptional
7 | Great | Well above average
6 | Very Good | Better than average
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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