Three Chord Honey Toasted Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

If you’re into music, you’ve probably heard of Neil Giraldo. He’s spent the last forty years as a musician, a record producer, and a songwriter. He has been married to Pat Benatar since 1982. He’s worked with Kenny Loggins, Rick Springfield, Rick Derringer, and several other artists. He is an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 

He also is the founder of Three Chord Bourbon:

 

“One night as I was sipping bourbon in my studio with friends, the conversation naturally turned to music, sound and composition. We began to wonder how blending the ‘tones’ of various whiskeys together could create a unique ‘harmony’ of flavor.

We knew bourbon’s role in Americana music and the American dream. We knew we loved it. We knew that the blues and the ‘three chord’ progression were a blank score that we could compose our own masterpiece with. Truth, heart, and integrity.” – Neil Giraldo

 

Now, I know what you’re thinking: Oh great, another crummy celebrity whiskey. Shut up and keep reading. Trust me here.

 

Ari Sussman is the Head Distiller and Blender at Steel Bending Spirits in Chelsea, Michigan. He’s the man who knows what he’s doing with whiskey and is responsible for producing Three Chord Bourbon.

 

Today, in 20 states nationwide, Three Chord will release its Honey Toasted Whiskey. It is a limited-edition, one-off blended from a 6-year MGP 21% rye Bourbon, a 5-year MGP 36% rye Bourbon, and an 8-year Kentucky 100% corn whiskey. After blending, the whiskey rested in toasted barrels sourced from Independent Stave Company and Speyside Cooperage for three months. From there, the whiskey was moved to barrels that aged honey from Fern Valley Farms in Arkansas. The result was a whiskey weighing in at 55.65% ABV (111.3°). A 750ml package comes with a suggested price of $59.99.

 

Before I get to the #DrinkCurious part, I must thank Three Chord Bourbon for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s do this!

 

Appearance: I sipped this neat from my Glencairn glass. Inside, it was a golden amber liquid. It formed a medium-heavy rim that yielded syrupy droplets that crawled back to the pool.

 

Nose: I smelled toasted oak, nutmeg, corn, vanilla, cedar, and honey. When I drew the air through my lips, it was as if someone detonated a massive honey bomb.

 

Palate: The texture was sticky and thick. The front of my palate tasted raw honey, cornbread, and cedar, while the middle featured nutmeg, tobacco, and creamy caramel. Flavors of charred oak, clove, and old leather formed the back.

 

Finish: The finish was warm and very long. This was the only part of the drinking experience where the proof became known. Toasted oak, barrel char, leather, and clove were evident; those were hewn together by sweet honey.

 

With Water:  Curiosity got the better part of me, and I added two drops of water to my glass. Honey, vanilla, and caramel exploded off the nose and were almost heavenly. I didn’t even want to sip it; I was too busy being mesmerized by the smell. The palate highlighted flavors of caramel, thick honey, toasted marshmallow, and clove.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Three Chord Honey Toasted Whiskey was impressive as hell and truly wowed me. It is one of the finer whiskeys I’ve tried in 2023, and that takes into consideration some very impressive pours. It is stupid-affordable, and you’d be a fool to pass this one up. In other words, 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.