Howler Head Banana-Infused Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

 

Flavored whiskeys make up a growing segment of the industry. They’re nothing new, but more and more brands are getting on the bandwagon. Several flavored whiskeys technically aren’t whiskeys; they’re liqueurs because they don’t meet the 40% ABV (80°) requirement. Drinking flavored whiskey is akin to playing Russian Roulette. Some are quality and quite tasty products; others are not so much. It becomes obvious someone was desperate to salvage something mediocre at best. But, if you don’t #DrinkCurious, you wind up missing what could be gems hidden in the swamp.

 

Last weekend, I attended Distill America, and while visiting the Wild Turkey (Campari) booth, I saw Howler Head.

 

“Howler Head is the original banana-flavored super-premium Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It starts with real, carefully crafted Bourbon made with the finest grains and mineral-rich water. The resulting Bourbon is then aged for two years in charred American white oak barrels. Following the aging, the fine Bourbon is then blended with natural banana flavor.” – Howler Head

 

Howler Head approaches the ring exuding an air of machismo. There’s no disclosure as to who is responsible for the distillate. Still, since Campari owns Wild Turkey and has a minority ownership stake in Howler Head, we would naturally want to make an educated extrapolation. Yet, it comes from Owensboro, which makes it Green River’s distillate.   

 

Who else is involved with Howler Head? The majority owner is Catalyst Spirits, headquartered in Miami, Florida. Additionally, Howler Head is partnering with UFC, the famous MMA sports entertainment organization. Moreover, Howler Head is a Gold Medal winner at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. As such, it is obvious why Howler Head is such a self-confident brand.

 

Yet, if you’ve followed my reviews and history, you understand that I put little stock in whiskey competitions (despite being a judging panelist), fancy marketing is considered just that, and partnerships are investment opportunities. I take everything at its most fundamental value: How does it perform from the glass?

 

Before we get to that, you should know that a 750ml package of Howler Head can be acquired for about $20.00. It is a legitimate whiskey, weighing in at the minimum requirement of 80°. Also, I must disclose that Howler Head provided me my sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: I approached Howler Head like any other whiskey; it was poured into my Glencairn glass and sipped neat. It presented as a bright yellow, golden fluid. The thicker rim released a wavy curtain that crashed back into the pool.

 

Nose: You’d hope that a banana-flavored whiskey would smell of bananas. Howler Head doesn’t disappoint. In fact, it goes a step or two further, smelling of banana pudding and vanilla. When I pulled the air through my lips, it was strictly banana.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was thin and oily. That surprised me a bit; I expected something thick and weighty. Howler Head tasted like a banana cream pie. The front was banana and cinnamon powder. The middle gave up graham cracker crust, and the back tasted of vanilla with a hint of oak spice.

 

Finish: Flavors of banana, vanilla, and oak spice stuck around for a relatively long finish.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Howler Head is strangely addictive. I brought this to share with friends while camping over Memorial Day Weekend. While Mrs. Whiskeyfellow and I were day campers, the folks sleeping in tents and trailers requested that we leave the bottle behind, and I complied. I’ve had other banana-flavored whiskeys, and in a fair and blind head-to-head bout with Howler Head, the competition would tap out. It is affordable, tasty entertainment, and a fun Bottle to keep on hand. 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.