Ohio’s Echo Spirits is the creation of two former engineers turned whiskeymakers, Joe Bidinger and Nikhil Sharoff, who not solely distill their very own hooch, in addition they flip sourced and blended whiskeys — a few of that are consistently altering.
That may make for some complexities at procuring time, as releases are consistently being changed by one thing totally completely different, and tough for us reviewers, who need to type a basic opinion a few distillery based mostly on a single cut-off date.
Engineer Sequence 25A is the fifth batch within the lineup, which started in 2023 (batches are denoted by two-digit 12 months, then the order of manufacturing in that 12 months — A, B, C…).
Batch 25A — Path Combine — is a mix of two similar Kentucky-based whiskeys from Bardstown Bourbon Firm. They’ve the identical mashbill (60% corn/36% rye/4% barley), and each are aged over 5 years. How are they completely different? Solely one of many two parts was double-oaked by Echo Spirits for a further 1 12 months and 1 month, spent in a low-char, heavy toast New American oak barrel from Speyside Cooperage.
58% of the mix is double-oaked. 42% is straight from the unique barrel. 357 bottles produced.
Let’s style.
There’s a lot of recent peanut on the nostril right here, paired with candy butterscotch and a few marzipan notes. The influence is creamy and candy — by no means just like the grittier and extra rustic peanut shell character you typically discover in youthful whiskeys. Time in glass helps to evoke a pointy trace of acetone, however it’s only a whiff, and surprisingly not off-putting. Some expressed orange oil notes are additionally evident within the combine.
The palate is sweeter even than the nostril suggests, creamy peanut butter blended with honey to kick issues off. There’s some basic baking spice right here plus ample vanilla and a touch of mint. The whiskey evolves to point out some fruitier notes in its midsection, a mild raisin character and only a trace of citrus, earlier than a thick layer of milk chocolate rolls over you on the end. There’s ample lingering warmth, with a reprise of spiced peanuts.
Better of all is the associated fee — at $53 it is a utterly honest value for a barrel-strength restricted version launch that has tons going for it. Seize it should you see it.
113 proof. Reviewed: Batch 25A “Path Combine.” 357 bottles produced.
A- / $53 / echospirits.com
Echo Spirits Engineer Sequence Batch 25A
USD53
