We’ve been writing about Hirsch since its 2016-ish relaunch, and the operation has grown in measurement and scope ever since. Immediately, Hirsch has at the very least 7 expressions below its belt, together with three (very completely different) single barrel releases which might be arduous to differentiate from each other apart from peeping the colour of the label. Finally you actually must learn the high-quality print on the again to know what you’re getting.
Immediately we overview two of these single barrel releases — each a part of the everlasting assortment — and we’re additionally looking at The Bivouac, which is a everlasting launch product that’s way more available than the one barrel bottles.
Hirsch The Bivouac Bourbon Assessment
This can be a mix of two bourbons, however solely barely. 95% is a 3 yr, 5 month-old whiskey from a 74% corn, 18% rye, and eight% barley mashbill. The opposite 5% is 8 years outdated, from a mash of 72% corn, 13% rye, and 15% barley. All Kentucky distillate.
The whiskey’s slightly rough-and-tumble, corn-heavy on the nostril and slightly boozy because it evokes aromas of Cracker Jack, roasted peanuts, and slightly barnyard. A vein of ethanol weaves all through, evoking youth.
The palate doesn’t do a lot to lift the bar over all that. Once more the whiskey hits as a mixture of peanut and popcorn, gently spiced with a twig of nutmeg and a few anise. Tannic and gritty, it once more comes throughout as overly boozy and undercooked, with no actual oomph on the end, in the end making me surprise why this was bottled at 100 proof. As an 80 proof comfortable hour shot, The Bivouac may maintain some promise towards competitors like Jim Beam White Label. Making an attempt to push it uphill with a better abv and a promise of extra nuance simply doesn’t pan out.
100 proof.
B- / $40 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Hirsch The Single Barrel Silver Bourbon Assessment
6 years, 4 months outdated. From Hirsch’s mash of 72% corn, 13% rye, and 15% barley.
That is decidedly an oddball whiskey, and it hits you from the beginning. The nostril is huge and natural, with numerous rosemary and anise, adopted by a grind of contemporary black pepper and cracked almond shells. Extra commonplace parts of caramel-dipped peanuts and roasted corn emerge from beneath, however the herbaceous qualities of the whiskey are inconceivable to disregard.
The palate is a very wild experience, taking the natural notes on the nostril and working with them. Anise, rosemary, sage — then ample mint. Then menthol, because the whiskey digs deeper and deeper into its playbook. Flavors of tobacco pair with the menthol rush, culminating in a end that returns to cracked black pepper and only a trace of fruit — black cherries, maybe some raspberry. Notes of crumbled, dried black tea leaves take issues to an unique and more and more uncommon conclusion.
It’s positively a whiskey to hunt out if you happen to’re searching for sudden taste mixtures — although I’m on the fence as to whether or not they all work completely properly collectively within the context of bourbon.
109.2 proof as reviewed. Barrel #23-3089.
B+ / $100
Hirsch The Single Barrel White Bourbon Assessment
4 years, 8 months outdated. 74% corn, 18% rye, and eight% barley.
There’s loads of youth right here, however this bourbon by no means comes throughout as notably brash. The nostril has a giant punch of peanut and popcorn notes, backed up by ample barrel char. Touches of anise add some intrigue, together with a extra natural component that — after ample time in glass — approaches marjoram.
The palate feels restrained and, once more, slightly younger, however by no means unapproachable. Peanuts, brown butter, and banana bread notes are all well-represented, the underlying fruit principally clinging to notes of mashed banana. Doughy, with low-lying notes of vanilla wafers and sesame seed, it by no means actually emerges from its shell. Mild touches of acetone add an industrial high quality right here and there.
It’s innocent on the end — particularly with a splash of water — for higher or for worse.
101.8 proof as reviewed. Barrel #19-32831.
B- / $50
Hirsch The Single Barrel Silver Bourbon
USD100
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