Introduction
Welcome to The Gentlemen’s Outlaw first ever whiskey review! This will be the first in a (hopefully) monthly series where we review whiskeys from all over the world. Our focus will primarily be American whiskeys and bourbons.
I promise, these reviews will be for the common man. There won’t be overly complicated descriptions of flavors or characteristics. We want you to understand what you’re getting into if you decide to purchase one of the whiskeys we review. Our reviews will help you determine if you should splurge for that rare, unique, or expensive bottle or if you should stick to a more traditional, middle of the road bourbon.
Finally, you can count on us to keep it real. If we don’t like something, we will tell you. If we love something, we will tell you. We want our authentic reviews to be the reason you keep coming back for more (reviews and bourbon alike).
Review
Where do I start? Many regular bourbon drinkers have probably heard of and may have had some variation of bourbon produced by Jefferson’s Reserve. This is my 2nd or 3rd different bourbon from this distiller and so far, Twin Oak Custom Barrel is my favorite.
Twin Oak starts off with a wonderful aroma. Jefferson Reserve’s website states, “The aroma is thick with wood — as you might expect — and notes of vanilla and butterscotch over cinnamon apple tart.” However, as I stated above, we don’t need to pretend to know what a thick wood aroma should smell like. Just know, this bourbon’s aroma is not overpowering and presents a well balanced bourbon. I do get a small hint of vanilla as Jefferson Reserve’s website states.
After you take in the aroma, you will want to take your first sip. There is no rollercoaster of emotions when Twin Oak hits your mouth. This is a straight, smooth, and delicious 90 proof bourbon. You won’t have to wince as you choke it down. You will be amazed by how easy it is to sip this bourbon neat or over an ice block. The bourbon starts easy with a balanced flavor profile and finishes smooth with a bit of a lingering taste. The first couple sips I was impressed by the smoothness and loved the finish.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell, I enjoy this bourbon. I have almost polished off the bottle in a few short weeks, which is very fast for me. I found this gem at my local Costco and paid about $50. About a week after that, I was checking out a new (to me) liquor store, and they had they same bottle for nearly $100. I am not sure if the liquor store marked the price up or if this is more in line with the bottle’s actual cost at most stores.
As good as this bourbon is, I wouldn’t recommend paying close to $100 for it. If you can find it near you for $50-$70 I say you should grab it immediately and taste if for yourself. This is one of those “I had a good day but nothing to celebrate but I still want a nice drink” type of bourbons. Nothing to go out of your way for, but a solid choice for your bar if you like to have some variety.
I typically enjoy my bourbon over an ice sphere but this one is great when taken neat. Overall, I’d rate this a solid 7.5/10. Its one of those bourbons you can share with friends because its not extremely rare or expensive, but also a great bourbon to sip on your own as you sit back, watch tv, or read. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments.
Happy tasting, gentlemen.