CH Straight Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

 

 If you have, well, you know what it is. If you haven’t, it is an herbal Swedish liqueur with a fan base, but most folks consider it an affront to humanity. Many clubs use a shot of Malört as an initiation rite. Slugging a shot was required when I was inducted into the Bourbon Mafia. Over the years, I’ve had Malört enough times to know what to expect, and it no longer forces me to question my continued existence while it is stuck in my mouth. Yes, it lingers. Forever. And no matter what else you eat or drink, the taste won’t go away.

 

But this isn’t a review of Malört, although I guess I just gave you one.

 

In 2018, the Carl Jeppson Company, the producer of Malört, was purchased by CH Distillery. CH Distillery was founded in 2013 by Mark Lucas and Tremaine Atkinson. The duo took on the name CH because they’re in Chicago, and it is also the chemical compound for Carbon and Hydrogen, which are the foundation of alcohol.

 

“CH is Chicago's leading artisan spirits producer with an extensive portfolio including the only organic vodka made from Illinois grain and a variety of core and specialty spirits. Milled, mashed, and fermented from scratch using only the finest ingredients, CH products speak to our core values: sourcing locally, drinkability, high quality, and value.” – CH Distillery

 

CH has a 50,000-square-foot distillery in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, where it stores 75 tons of grains and does its mashing, milling, fermenting, distilling, and barrel storage – for its vodka and gin. Its whiskeys are sourced from other distilleries.  

 

Today I’m exploring CH Straight Bourbon. This whiskey is distilled from a mash of 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley by Ross & Squibb (MGP). It aged two years in new, charred oak and is packaged at 52.5% ABV (105°). You can expect to pay around $25.00 for a 750ml package.

 

I do not recall where I found my 50ml taster of CH Straight Bourbon, but I believe I picked it up for a buck. Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover for ourselves if it is any good.

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon neat into my Glencairn glass. Inside, the liquid looked like a genuine orange amber. A medium-thin rim formed wide, slow tears.

 

Nose: Caramel, oak, and mint were the first smells, followed by brown sugar and vanilla. As I inhaled through my lips, I encountered vanilla mint.

 

Palate: I hate to use the term smooth, but that accurately describes the Bourbon’s texture. I tasted oak and vanilla on the front of my palate. At its midpoint were caramel and tobacco, while the back featured cinnamon and brown sugar.

 

Finish: The medium-short finish offered a lot of caramel, oak, and cinnamon spice. The cinnamon stuck around the longest.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: There’s nothing complicated about CH Straight Bourbon. The proof is about perfect – it warmed my mouth and throat but didn’t burn. It allowed flavors to be found effortlessly. I don’t believe anyone will think to themselves, “Wow, this is my new favorite Bourbon!” At the same time, there’s really nothing not to like. It is capable of getting lost amongst its crowded arena of competitors. Is it worth $25.00? I believe so. But as a plain-Jane whiskey, it can’t handle more than my 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 to do so responsibly.