Big Stick Bourbon Finished on Oak Staves Review & Tasting Notes

 

One of the things I enjoy about attending whiskey festivals is I almost always come across an unfamiliar brand. A few weeks ago, I was attending the Wisconsin Whiskey Fest in Milwaukee, and one of those new-to-me brands was Big Stick Bourbon.

 

Big Stick Bourbon is produced by Semper Fi Brands and is owned by best friends Mike Ryan and Joe Baker. Mike is an engineer who holds several patents for his inventions. Joe is a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel who earned a Navy Commendation Medal for helping to evacuate the Pentagon on 9/11. He’s a smart guy, too; he has two undergraduate degrees and a law degree, of which he earned magna cum laude on the latter.

 

Big Stick Bourbon has pledged to donate 5% of its profits to charitable organizations dedicated to helping military members and their families. The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle of Big Stick Bourbon is between $70.00 and $75.00, and it is packaged at 95°.

 

What do you get for $70.00? It begins with a proprietary blend of 36-to 48-month Bourbons sourced from MGP/Ross & Squibb. The whiskey was aged in 53-gallon new, American white oak barrels. And although Big Stick Whiskey is a Texas brand, it is bottled in Florida. Why? Well, that’s what makes Big Stick Whiskey more than just another MGP brand.

 

“Big Stick Bourbon is ultra-smooth because before bottling, we add a c­harred New American White Oak Stick into every bottle. The bourbon to stick in bottle ratio is 99.8% equivalent to that of bourbon in a 53-gallon barrel. Similar to a “Double Oaked” whiskey, this added step allows our bourbon to gracefully integrate with new oak for a second time.

This innovative process creates an exceptional and extremely smooth whiskey with rich, enhanced flavors. With no evaporation in bottle versus in barrel; we like to say, ‘We Make The Angels Thirsty!™’ All Big Stick Bourbon is small batch.” – Big Stick Bourbon

 

As stated above, in each bottle is a charred stave. The idea is the aging process will continue because there is still interaction between the liquid and wood. Getting the stave in the bottle was one challenge. The second was the pourer inside the neck and the screwtop closure. The purpose of the pourer is so the stave doesn’t fall out while you’re pouring Big Stick Bourbon and prevents you from making a mess.

 

 

Big Stick Bourbon isn’t the first brand to include wood inside the bottle. Others have tried it, too, and in my experience (at least), the result has always been… let me be nice here and call it lacking. That, in turn, brings me to the #DrinkCurious challenge.

 

I thank Semper Fi Brands for sending me a sample of Big Stick Bourbon in exchange for a no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s get down to business.

 

Appearance:  Served neat in my Glencairn glass, Big Stick Bourbon presented as a darker orange-amber. A medium-thick rim stuck like glue against the wall, eventually releasing thick droplets.

 

Nose:  An aroma of toasted oak, corn, vanilla cream, and cinnamon hit my olfactory sense. As I continued to sniff, I managed to coax out a puff of mint. On a side note, as I explored the nose, I couldn’t help but notice the thick rim was still stuck to the wall. When I inhaled the vapor through my mouth, the vanilla became heavier.

 

Palate: Initially, the texture seemed thin, but additional sips brought a curiously light and syrupy mouthfeel. I realize those words seem conflicting, but that’s what it is for whatever reason. The front of my palate encountered toasted oak, corn, and vanilla. The middle featured oat, raisin, and leather, while the back consisted of clove, black pepper, and dry oak.

 

Finish:  Dry oak remained on my palate along with caramel, clove, and oat for a medium-to-long duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I have a couple of observations. First, Big Stick Bourbon is much better than its stave-in-the-bottle competitors. While this whiskey is still on the youngish side, the stave doesn’t make it overly oaky, but it is prominent. However, the second is that while I can appreciate the charitable aspect and the challenges of the unique bottling compounded with bringing a newer brand to market, Big Stick Bourbon will have a tough battle competing with other Bourbons at a similar price point. Because of that, it has earned a Bar rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy to Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.