Affordable Whiskey, affordable whisky, American Straight Whiskey, American Whiskey, American Whisky, Blogger, Boston, Boston Blogger, Boston Whiskey Women, bourbon, Bourbon whiskey, Cheers, dram, Hudson Whiskey, Latina Blogger, Latina Whisky Blogger, New Blog Post, New York Whiskey, Not Sponsored, straight bourbon whiskey, whiskey, Whiskey Blogger, Whiskey Review, Whiskey Sampling, whiskeywench, Whisky, Whisky Blogger, whisky cocktail, Whisky Sampling, whisky tasting, Women Who Whiskey

Taconic Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barreled with New York Maple Syrup

Posted by whiskeywench on

Not too long ago, I had the chance to sample a lineup from Taconic Distillery, established in 2014 in the Hudson Valley of New York. The tasting included their Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Straight Bourbon Whiskey barreled with New York maple syrup, Straight Rye Whiskey, and one additional expression that I’ll be covering in a separate post.

Although all the whiskies performed well, one clearly stood above the rest, and it was the one I least expected. If you haven’t guessed by the title, it was the bourbon finished with New York maple syrup. At the mention of maple syrup, I braced myself for something overly sweet and unbalanced. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. This expression was thoughtfully executed and beautifully restrained. Now, let’s dive in.

This expression is the result of a collaboration with Catskill Mountain Sugarhouse. Taconic provides freshly dumped bourbon barrels, which the sugarhouse fills with organic maple syrup. After the syrup has finished aging and is bottled, the barrels are returned to Taconic, where they are then used to age their bourbon.

Nose: caramelized sugar, vanilla, oak and syrup

Palate: Cinnamon, cloves, brown butter, oak and caramel

Finish: warming close with light sweetness, pepper, and oak

ABV: 45% | Cost: $49

I initially thought this would be overly sweet, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The spices in this whiskey beautifully counterbalance the sweetness. You still get the richness of maple syrup, baking spices, and caramel, but those notes are complemented by oak and pepper, keeping everything in balance.

It’s a surprisingly complex dram, one that leaves you questioning whether it leans more toward a dessert whiskey or a spiced whiskey. For me, neither side overpowers the other. Each note works in harmony, and the balance is what truly won me over.

I’ve seen online that this expression seems to be a hit or miss for many, but for me, it’s an absolute hit. While it’s enjoyable on its own, I think it would truly shine in cocktails. It may not be for everyone, but if you come across it, I’d encourage you to give it a try. It’s a rewarding pour that takes your palate on a memorable journey.

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend people to try it and make up their own minds.

Leave a comment