Details and Tasting Notes:
Mary Dowling Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tequila Barrels
(Photo: Mary Dowling Whiskey Co.)
This high-rye bourbon is made from a mashbill of 70% corn, 25% rye and 5% malted barley — nearly identical to Mary Dowling’s original recipes, according to Zamanian. Zamanian and company opted to finish the bourbon in Appalachian American Oak tequila casks as an homage to Dowling’s cunning and creative decision to open a distillery in Mexico when Prohibition forced her to stop producing and selling whiskey in the U.S.
Bottled at 93 proof, this whiskey is enjoyable, fun and decently complex, if a touch young-tasting. It retails for $75. Here are our initial tasting notes from the event:
Nose: Graham cracker and tons of citrus and fruit. The agave influence is noticeable and fun. The nose offers notes of lemon, lime, melon, honey, hazelnut, blueberry muffins, soft oak, brown sugar, orange sherbet and sweet cream.
Taste: Thin to medium mouthfeel with notes of fudge, caramel corn, blueberries and a bite of youthful heat.
Finish: Medium in length, the finish leaves notes of rich fudge and vanilla ice cream.
Mary Dowling Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Toasted Double Oak Barrel
(Photo: Mary Dowling Whiskey Co.)
Bottled at cask-strength 107 proof, this wheated, double-oaked bourbon is aged in Char #3 and Char #1 new oak barrels after being distilled from a mashbill of 65% corn, 25% wheat and 10% malted barley. This is the superior of the two expressions, although the tequila finish is no slouch. It retails for $130. Here are our initial tasting notes:
Nose: Sweet and dessert-forward. Custard, rich butterscotch, graham cracker, toasted marshmallows, vanilla, salted caramel and peaches and cream. There’s also a nice savory bacon-fat undertone.
Taste: This whiskey presents a lovely viscosity. It’s quite oaky with some heat and a good amount of tannin. The palate delivers an enjoyable balance of fruit and dessert, with notes of blackberries, raspberries, toffee and barrel char.
Finish: A long finish imparts melting butter, marshmallow, lemon curd, orange peel and sweet brown sugar.
