True
or not, I love whiskey backstories. The most believable tend to come from
Scotland, while the tallest tales are American. Perhaps it is my fondness of folklore,
my admiration for Samuel Clemens, and my value of creativity. And, no matter
how fascinating the background, it and how a whiskey tastes are separated into
two distinct universes.
Today,
I’m exploring I Bourbon, which has aggressively hit my social media
feeds. I’d never heard of it, but I always am on the prowl for something new,
so I reached out to the company to learn more.
“When I set out to start my own business, my goal was to create a bourbon for everyone. I wanted to create a bourbon so special – but also, so accessible – that you could enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or in your favorite whiskey cocktail. The concept of ‘I Bourbon’ was born! I hope you enjoy it. This is I Bourbon, and it’s yours.®” – Tripp Whitbeck, Founder
Tripp
was a lawyer, a political consultant, and a corporate salesperson. But, since
his childhood, Tripp has always been intrigued by complex smells and flavors. He
wanted to get involved in craft spirits and became a TAM (Techniques of Alcohol
Management) certified bartender to learn as much as he could about the trade.
Finally, in 2019, he ditched everything and dove head-first into creating his
own company.
Tripp’s
story is interesting (and believable). When he and I spoke, he explained that
he came up with the blending profile in his living room. His living room? If you’re like me, you immediately picture him
with hoards of samples, bottles everywhere, and scientific equipment. But that’s
not what happened. Instead, he had little sample bottles from distilleries
around the country, and he added a little bit of this whiskey to a little bit
of that until he was satisfied. He said this process took a few weeks before I
Bourbon was born.
The
components of I Bourbon all come from Tennessee. He started with a 13-year
Bourbon, and while he felt it was delicious, it didn’t fit his goal of creating
a Bourbon for everyone. He added 5- and 6-year Tennessee components before
things came together. Tripp doesn’t disclose what distilleries he sourced from,
but he states it is a high-corn mash that includes rye and malted barley
bottled at 43% ABV (86°). I Bourbon is labeled as straight, meaning what’s inside
is unadulterated by additional ingredients.
The
packaging is gorgeous and different from most anything else on the store shelf.
It has plenty of embossing, with a giant “I” on the back and written BOURBON
vertically on the front. The stopper is clear acrylic with a synthetic cork and
a gold “I” on the top. BOURBON is even embossed on the punt.
I
Bourbon is sold in nine states and can be shipped to 41. Tripp indicated the
suggested retail price is $59.99, and that’s what he sells it for on his
website. Tripp indicated he envisions I Gin, I Vodka, I Rum,
and other “universal” spirits in his wheelhouse.
Before
I #DrinkCurious, I must thank Tripp for providing me with this sample in
exchange for a no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s taste how Tripp did…
Appearance: A neat
pour in my Glencairn glass revealed a Bourbon with a deep golden hue. A thinner
rim released syrupy legs that crawled back to the pool of liquid sunshine.
Nose: The telltale
smell of Flinstone’s vitamins forces me to suspect at least one component comes
from Dickel. Plum, nuts, honeysuckle, and cherry blossoms had to be coaxed from
beneath. When I pulled the aroma into my mouth, a wave of vanilla rolled
through.
Palate: The mouthfeel
could best be described as silky but weighty. On the front of my palate, I
discovered big, bold vanilla offset by a tinge of butterscotch. The middle was
more transitionary between the front and back and didn’t offer anything
identifiable. It led to oak, nutmeg, and rye spice.
Finish: The
medium-length finish featured vanilla and rye.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: While
the nose screamed minerality, it never materialized in my mouth. Instead, sweet
notes commanded attention, balanced by spicy flavors. There was no ethanol burn;
what heat exists comes from those spices. I Bourbon is an easy sipper that
lacks anything people who claim they don’t like whiskey would find unappealing.
And that’s the consumer Tripp has targeted.
I Bourbon can be a tremendous
toe-dipping opportunity for those who don’t indulge in neat pours. The subtle
spices should lend depth to a whiskey-forward cocktail. The more experienced
palate will long for something more profound than what I Bourbon provides. I
Bourbon is a nice pour, but there’s also something missing. Personally, I wish
it possessed a few more proof points.
Regarding the value
statement, I understand how expensive it is to launch a new brand, particularly
when you put forward such a beautiful package. The eye candy is nice but what
counts is what’s inside. I Bourbon isn’t bad; far from it. But I can’t see
myself spending $60.00 on it. As such, I Bourbon takes my Bar rating. You’ll want to try this one first. 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.
Now to find a local bar that serves it. The review has really intrigued me.
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