Puncher's Chance "The Unified Belt" Irish-American Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

 

While not a vast niche category, there seems to be a growing trend of blending Irish and American whiskeys. I’ve reviewed a few of them, with Four Walls Irish American Whiskey the most recent. Like anything else, some are good, some are lacking. But the most important thing to remember is that no matter what whiskey is offered, always #DrinkCurious.

 

There’s a brand called Puncher’s Chance Bourbon, produced by Wolf Spirit Distillery of Eugene, Oregon. It is a sourced Bourbon distilled and aged in Kentucky. Puncher’s Chance got its name from the notion of giving it all you have with just a single swing and hoping for the best or fighting for what you believe in (and, in this case, whiskey).

 

Wolf Spirit Distillery was founded in 2017 by former Campari Chief Marketing Officer Umberto Luchini. Its Chief Maker is Ben Green, who invented a freeze-filtering process and is a self-taught distiller. The distillery is housed in a former laundromat, guarded by its rescued pit bull mascot, Mr. Pickles. Wolf Spirit takes craft distilling seriously, as evidenced by its website banner:

 

Today, I’m exploring The Unified Belt, which is (as you can guess from my introduction) a blend of Irish and American whiskeys.

 

“With barrels sourced by IJW Whiskey Company of Louisville, KY and crafted by IJW Master Blender Steven Hughes, THE UNIFIED BELT is the first cross-category whiskey blend from Wolf Spirit. First into the ring is a four-year-old high-rye base Kentucky Straight Bourbon distilled with a proprietary yeast and aged to four years in barrels featuring a #4 alligator char aged at a traditional rickhouse in Danville, KY; the mash bill being 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% malt. That is married to a four-year-old Irish Whiskey crafted from 100% malted barley and proprietary yeast, then aged in former Bourbon barrels in a palletized warehouse in Ireland. To add further complexity and depth, a third cask joins the lineup, this being a 14-year-old Bourbon finished in first-fill Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry casks for up to 15 months. The mash bill of this precious liquid is 84% corn, 8% rye and 10% malt.” – Wolf Spirit

 

This 48% ABV (96°) whiskey is a limited-edition, three-cask run and carries a purse of $149.99 for a 750ml package. It is available nationwide or can be purchased directly from the Puncher’s Chance website.

 

Is The Unified Belt any good? First, I must clear my mind because I love PX sherry cask-finished whiskeys, no matter where they come from. Next, I must thank Wolf Spirit for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: I poured this blend into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. The bronze liquid created a medium rim that stuck like glue. Eventually, it released syrupy tears that rolled back into the pool of whiskey.

 

Nose: The aroma was corn-forward, yielding cocoa powder, roasted nuts, orange peel, cherries, and brown sugar. A roundhouse of cherries and caramel tangoed across my tongue when I drew the air through my lips.

 

Palate: My first sip proved to be thin and oily. It was also a flash knockdown because all the flavors hit me simultaneously. I paused a few moments, and round two allowed my palate to bob and weave so I could discern the individual components and give a blow-by-blow description. The front featured baked apples, plums, and cherries, while the middle tasted of cocoa, spiced nuts, and vanilla. The back brought oak tannins, tobacco, and leather.  

 

Finish: The bout ended with oak, leather, cocoa, baked apples, and plums. It lasted about eight of the twelve scheduled rounds.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Did The Unified Belt go the distance? I believe that this whiskey acts as a stylist. You can taste what’s intended, and no knockout punch assaults the palate due to its lower proof. It is less of an Irish whiskey and more an American. While I appreciate the older Bourbon component and enjoyed the sherry influences, I don’t believe it lives up to its $150.00 prize. It is a good whiskey; however, it takes my Bar rating.

 

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.