Using their experience they help identify potential challenges before they arise and guide their customers to a successful end spirit. 3. Same for ryes -- the differences in pricing from Rossville Union, Templeton, NuLu, Nashville Barrel Co., Four Gate, Proof & Wood, etc. Smoke Wagons meteoric rise can be attributed to their crew masterfully sourcing and blending some of the best barrels from MGP of Indiana that were made available in the modern era. A sweet finish fades to mellow notes from the barrel. This limited release is distilled from Bloody Butcher corn. The driver who delivered them told me they were empty and he does not handle barrels for a living. With all of that in mind, were calling out 20 MGP bourbon whiskeys that we love drinking. Slight hints of smoke, chocolate, and oak develop at the end of the body and fade into the heavily malted finish. Thats cut with a four-year-old bourbon distilled in Mississippi thats also has a high-rye mash bill. It is a blend of three different MGP mash bils: 60% rye bourbon ( 21% rye ), 24% wheat bourbon, and 16% corn bourbon. But these numbers are not hard-and-fast by any means. Okay, this isnt sourced since it is MGPs own brand. English whisky is currently going through a quiet boom, as more whisky distilleries keep opening and producing whisky south of the Scottish border. A new microdistillery located in the western highlands of Scotland, Ncnean (pronounced nook-knee-ann) is offering bourbon casks for its whisky, and also is able to provide a red wine cask (3,900) as well. It doesnt have a strong ethanol flavor like many other vodkas. Hanging out with Bill and drinking @woodycreekdistillers Bourbon. Buying a good bottle of whisky is always a pleasure, especially when you have the chance to open and drink it. You can buy entire casks of whisky that will be stored and matured at the distillery warehouse just for you. No glycerol or citric acid added. In fact, the coopers union pushed for the new barrel requirement. That marriage of bourbons then goes into the bottle, uncut and unfiltered. . Juniper and pine are the main flavor. We walked through the front gate, cameras out of course, and into a main building to a large conference room. New Riff picked up a substantial horde of MGPs high rye bourbon stock, and has been releasing successively older batches. 16. Period. On top of that, distillers at MGP make a long list of mash bills and aging/finishings that are ready to be blended and proofed by master blenders (also known as non-distiller producers) giving creative upstart brands a ton of flexibility. We were some of the first people outside of the company to taste this new release. (Vodka and gin are distilled in KS while whiskey is distilled in IN.) This is a blend of two bourbons. Sweet, creamy, with vanilla notes and a hint of wood. The Whiskey Reviewer uses a letter-based rating system, instead of the numerical 100-grade rating system. Midwest Grain Products, or sourced whiskey, are pretty commonplace in the whiskey world and have been around for decades, even though brands do not disclose it. The palate centers the creamy vanilla while adding in a cinnamon bark vibe with notes of black pepper and floral honey moved into the background. But once or twice a year they extend invitations to a media day at their Lawrenceburg distillery. MGP Distillery is not open to the public. David says they are after a particular profile as opposed to a specific recipe. Slight hints of citrus and spice throughout the body and finish. #bourbon #whiskey #kentuckybourbon Snapped during the 'Rickhouse Barrel Thieving' tour at Bardstown Bourbon Co. In this case, three barrels were blended aged three to five years to create a barrel strength expression that highlights the quality of those casks. #chicagobourbon #bourbon #whiskey 2020 the standard rye is a blend of the above two percentage mashbills. You might want to add a bit of water to this whiskey as its a bit too harsh for sipping neat. I think it will be ok now. The actual range of cask options available is too large to list here and is the most extensive out of all the distilleries in this article. After the computers took over, most of his day was spent playing cards between checking on the stills. Sweet finish fades to slight barrel notes and vanilla. When they arrived 2 of the 5 barrels were BONE DRY- not even damp. However, buying a cask ensures that you wont miss out. It's easy! Old Elk continues to contract MGP to produce custom mash bills, but they do not purchase a standard product from MGP and label it as their own (sourcing). Bold malt and fruit flavors dominate the forward and body notes of the flavor profile. Russ, our driver for the day, met me at the airport and took me to our hotel in Lawrenceburg. David went on to say that because all of their rickhouse floors are isolated with concrete and the temp and humidity remains fairly stable they typically see lower temperatures and consistent humidity. The finish follows this sweetness, eventually fading to corn grain. Comment below and tag a friend or two. The palate builds on that ice cream, creating a sundae with crushed almonds, creamy toffee brittle, and a hint of eggnog spice. One thousand 9L cases in total. Most importantly, I must make it clear that the price I quote is the price for the cask only! The palate is velvety with a ride through soft spices (think nutmeg), a light toffee brittle, hints of spicy tobacco, and a very light echo of marshmallow. Obtainium Light Whiskey - Zipp's Liquor pick BOURBON GUY Having tasted through tons of barrels at Nashville Barrel Company, I can attest that their crew is pulling some of the best barrels available on the market. Big, but lithe thanks to its high acidity, the 86-proofer still feels like a steal at $122. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. They did credit one barrel. Its a little young but the breadiness you get from that youth is well-layered into the overall vibe of the sip and makes perfect sense. Its a great price too. There are no rough edges whatsoever and it feels warming without being spicy. Its just really nice. That extra heat balances this complex bourbon and thoroughly shows off the skill of the MGP distillers and blenders. MGP Indiana: Past, Present and Future - Bourbon Culture What youre paying for here is the exactness of a whiskey blender finding great barrels and knowing how to marry them to make something bigger and better. Yes please! They distill most of the rye whiskey on the US market and a ton of bourbon. A little searching online reveals that Sagamore is blending two MGP products; a high-rye (95% rye, 5% malted barley) and a low-rye (51% rye, but an unspecified mash bill, probably corn). A gin still from 1941 is used almost every day and a second still from 1942, transported to Indiana in the 80s, is used as well. They arent the only players though. All that spice also makes it perfect for Manhattans or Sazeracs. The palate shines as the peaches and berries combine to make a sort of summer fruit crumble with plenty of butter, dark sugar, and spice alongside a thin line of soft leather, rich vanilla, and more of that sweet oak. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. This blended bourbon is made of 11 and 18-year-old bourbons. MGP Whiskey Steps into the Spotlight - Liquor.com It definitely works and draws you in. American Prairie is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after sourced whiskeys. When we got to the distillery we met the rest of our group. If a bottle label reads "Distilled in Indiana" it was almost certainly distilled by MGP. I get that there will be some loss for angel's share and some minor barrel seepage but empty after 4 years is just BS. The rye spice in the body carries into a long finish. At $44.99 its moderately priced and probably worth it for fans of MGP bourbon. When we got to the distillery we met the rest of our group,Maggie Kimberl, Columnist at American Whiskey Magazine, Ginny and Charlie Tonic, Patrick Pops Garrett, Founder of Bourbon & Banter, and our hostAndy Mansinne, MGPs VP of Brands. It was meant as a showcase of what MGP bourbons could do just as much as it was testing the waters and commemorating Metze, and it succeeded on all counts. The extra oak creates a dry mouthfeel with a continued spicy/sweet edge thats welcoming, while hints of orchard fruits mingle with butterscotch and a hint of bitterness. Hanging out with Bill and drinking @woodycreekdistillers Bourbon. Juniper gives way to a finish of citrus and strawberry. The coolest rickhouse in the industry at @bardstownbourbonco is home to 58,500 barrels of liquid gold. Bottled at the same 94 proof but aged about twice as long as George Remus and commanding a shelf price of $70-$80. Fresh barrels (2+) will be shipped via a LTL motor freight provider. WhistlePig Old World 12 Year Old Rye: The flagship WhistlePig whiskey is a 10 year old 100% rye imported from Alberta Distillers in Canada. The palate has a nougat svelteness next to creamed corn and Southern biscuits dripping with butter and honey. Angels Envy Rye: This one comes from one of the American trailblazers in secondary maturation (i.e. This gin is full of pleasant surprises, like visiting a citrus grove with a nearby strawberry field. 2. Our personal favorite is the brands Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon Whiskey, made from a high-rye bourbon mash bill. Part of their Artisan Series. 10 MGP Bourbon Brands To Try (2023 Updated) - Liquor Laboratory Each of their Artisan Series bottlings leverages their unique ability to experiment with various grains grown on their farm. MGP Whiskey Barrels - Freshly Emptied and Once Used - Midwest Barrel Co. MGP is the producer of some premium whiskeys, all from a mash bill that is no less than 51% rye, wheat or malt. Redemption Barrel Proof Ryes: Redemption has created a series of middle aged, cask strength expressions of MGPs 95% rye, ranging from 7 to 10 years old. It might come as a shock to you that Barrell Craft uses bourbon sourced from MGP, with the word craft clearly on its name. They also allow multiple groups to combine orders to meet that quantity. The Best Bourbon Whiskeys From MGP Of Indiana, Ranked - UPROXX Many brands contract whiskey from MGP, not all make it known. I dropped off my safety gear and took a seat in the MGP tasting room where, Facts such as bourbons requirement to use only. Required fields are marked *. This is a great example of how beautiful a single barrel from MGP can be. Caramel and vanilla forward notes fade to a complex spice and smoky body. The barrel proof is meant to be more bold. I actually had a chance to tryits new make spirit (watered down to 50% ABV) and it was delicious, which bodes well for the whisky as it matures and takes on new flavors. Andy also shared their brands mission: To create and build a portfolio of super-premium priced and positioned spirit brands for consumers and the trade, leveraging MGPs vast distilling capabilities and blending expertise, ensuring that these brands meet or exceed both consumers and customers expectations for taste, style and quality.. Slight creamy vanilla leads towards a hint of soft cherry sweetness as the pepperiness edges towards lemon pepper soaked in honey, with a slight note of green reeds at the end. Expect a nose thats nutty, full of oatmeal raisins cookies with plenty of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a spicy cedar vibe that leans towards peppery tobacco leaves. The team at MGP improved the blend and brought it back to market. 5 year Cognac Finished Blaum Bros. Not that their Bourbon needs any help but this Cognac finished bourbon is , Tasted: Resilient Bourbon (Late 2018 Releases), Beer and Whiskey at Maplewood Brewery & Distillery. One of the biggest sources for bourbon (and rye) in the U.S. is MGP of Indiana in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, just over the Ohio River from Kentucky. We walked through the front gate, cameras out of course, and into a main building to a large conference room. Make sure to add a little water to really let this one bloom in the glass. . Theres a Red Hots cinnamon-sweet opening, with plenty of oak, hints of caramel, and a slight touch of woody vanilla and pine. Heavy chocolate and cream notes complement those from the used barrels, leading to slight fruit notes in the body. He said they are positioning their brands at a super-premium price point so as not to compete with their customers. Old Elks bourbon is made from a whopping 45% wheat, which takes the term wheated bourbon to a new level. For more information, see our Shipping FAQs. I can share what Mark Gillespie (WhiskyCast) said, I would spend my own money on the Remus Repeal Reserve II and the Rossville Union Barrel Proof. A sweet finish fades to mellow notes from the barrel. As we tasted I asked David his opinion about chill filtering. The base is a five-year-old, high-rye mash bill bourbon from MGP. The sourced juice is then aged for an undisclosed amount of years before its batched and cut down to proof with that soft Rocky Mountain spring water Colorado is known for. Cucumber provides an earthy body and finish. David told us that chill filtering removes some of the fatty acids that he wants in his whiskey. This is an excellent high rye bourbon though might be hard to find as its an annual release. The Indiana-based distillery is actually the only one still making whiskey, aside from vodka, gin, neutral grain spirits, and industrial alcohol. I know this feels like a huge gimmick, but the whiskey 100 percent delivers on the taste and mouthfeel. The nose draws you in with a soft masa vibe with a mix of Tex-Mex spices (think chili powder and a hint of cumin and garlic powder) thats countered by cedar park and chocolate-laced tobacco leaves (the nose takes me straight back to my favorite childhood Tex-Mex joint). I would love to see his notes! Like all releases in their Artisan Series, this Whiskey Acres Bloody Butcher possesses the core Whiskey Acres character and flavor profile while bringing an interesting twist! MGP uses at least a dozen or so mashbills, or recipes for the "mash" which is distilled to make whiskey. After all, they have distilled since their founding in 1941 but this is the first time theyve marketed their own whiskey to consumers. It offers a wide variety of casks, including bourbon (first fill and refill), sherry (5,900 for a full sherry butt, which holds 500 liters), and and red wine (6,380 for 500 liters). For those who like a higher proof, Rossville Union Barrel Proof adds to the high ABV group of MGP Distillery's whiskey collection. Aged at least 4 years, bottled at 95.6 proof, and non-chill filtered. It works pretty damn well in a cocktail but is also a nice end-of-the-day pour over some rocks too. For the first time in their history MGP is marketing their own in-house brands of bourbon and rye whiskey. Barrels can be shipped up to 4 barrels per pallet and 8 barrels per skid (two pallets high). Headquartered in Atchison, KS with distilleries in both Atchison and Lawrenceburg MGP employes about 325 people. They distill most of the rye whiskey on the US market and a ton of bourbon. For the next hour we learned a ton of MGP history, brand strategy, and future plans from Andy and his team. I asked Andy to tell me more about their process and relationship with their customers. Andy gave us a rundown of the MGP story. As well as the MGP team for warmly welcoming us to their home. They are approaching their new marketing efforts with the mentality of a startup distillery. I do purchase through Ultra Pure and I did bark up their treea lot. and our The rye spice in the body carries into a long finish. Purchase Info: $54.99 for a 750 mL bottle, Zipps Liquor, Minneapolis, MN. Rich sweetness from cream, vanilla, and fruit, with a creamy mouth feel. The standard is meant to be approachable and comfortable. This takes the premise of the Pepper Rye, ups the ante in the strength department and with a more mature product, although it does come with a heftier price tag. For all you know (not saying this is likely, but it's possible) they could have been emptied in transit. Basically the process chills the whiskey, solidifying fatty acids that are then filtered out.) [. This opens with sticky toffee pudding that really amps up the cinnamon and nutmeg next to black-tea-soaked dates next to some stewed prunes wrapped in chili-chocolate-laced tobacco leaves and dripped in honey and then walnuts.