Wandering Mind Spirits Hibiscus Liqueur Review & Tasting Notes

It isn’t too often I escape the realm of whiskey and venture elsewhere. But when I do, there always seems to be at least a loose relationship. Today’s review is no different.

 

Wandering Mind Spirits was founded by Justin BonDurant. Justin had a 15-year tenure in the bar and restaurant industry before taking his insatiable thirst for learning about foods and drinks new to him.

 

“The main draw of travel for me is the newness. A food I’ve never heard of, a drink I’ve never had, a place I’ve never seen. I want to share a taste of those experiences through my line of spirits. My hope is that for most of you, they will bring something new and unexpected, and for some of you, something familiar that reminds you of home.” – Justin BonDurant

 

Today I’m sipping on his Hibiscus Liqueur. In developing this spirit, Justin was inspired by the hibiscus aguas frescas that, according to the Mexican Food Journal, is sweet, tart, and refreshing. It is commonly drunk during the midday meal in Mexico and the Caribbean. Hibiscus aguas frescas is made by steeping hibiscus flowers until it forms a concentrate. Water and sugar are added to dilute and sweeten the liquid.

 

Justin goes a step or so further by adding Peruvian ginger, lime, and cinnamon. That leads us to the loose connection to whiskey: Justin’s hibiscus aguas frescas is then aged in former Limousin Rye casks from Dancing Goat Distillery.

Hibiscus Liqueur is packaged at 25% ABV (50°), and a 750ml bottle is priced just shy of $30.00. You’ll find this in Wisconsin.

 

I thank Wandering Mind Spirits for providing me with a sample of this liqueur in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and learn more.

 

Appearance: In my Glencairn glass, it presented as a dark plum liquid. An incredibly thick rim glued to the wall, releasing thick, sticky tears.

 

Nose: An aroma of lime peel, cranberry, cherry, and ginger permeated my nostrils. More lime citrus rolled past my tongue when I inhaled through my mouth.

 

Palate: The thick, silky texture that greeted my tongue was a prelude to flavors of rich chocolate and cranberries that hugged the front of my palate. Lemon-lime and caramel formed the middle, while the back of my palate found vanilla and roasted poblano peppers.

 

Finish: Short, sweet, and tart, the finish kept the poblano peppers, caramel, and cranberries.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: This is the second time I’ve had an opportunity to taste Wandering Mind Spirits’ Hibiscus Liqueur. The first was from the initial batch. I loved that, and I believe the second eclipses what I remembered. This will have mass appeal. You can use this in a cocktail, but to be blunt, this is perfect as-is when sipped neat, and it steals my Bottle 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.