Casey Jones Total Eclipse Four-Grain Bourbon & Moonshine Reviews

 

The Casey Jones Distillery was founded in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 2014 by Arlon “AJ” Casey Jones. His grandfather was the namesake, and he was quite the legend. He created coffin stills made from copper and shaped like a coffin. The distillery has the last still Casey Jones built on display. I visited the distillery last August; this is my photo of the still.

 

 

 

“During Prohibition, Al Capone got moonshine from many different places. But the shine he liked the most came from Golden Pond, Kentucky. What made Golden Pond shine so special? Casey Jones. Casey was Golden Pond’s master stillmaker. The stills he designed were unique and meticulously crafted. Revenuers could tell a still was Casey’s just by looking at it. Fellow moonshiners and Chicago’s most famous gangster knew Casey’s stills by the superior product they produced.” – Casey Jones Distillery

 

One of the cool things about Hopkinsville is that in 2017, it was prime real estate to see the total eclipse of the sun. The town was flooded with visitors who wanted to (safely) witness it. About 20,000 people were at the distillery itself! And next month, there will be another total eclipse, with Hopkinsville again becoming the center of attention.

 

Those events caused AJ to create a special commemorative whiskey. But instead of one, he made two: a Bourbon for the 2024 eclipse and a Moonshine for the 2017.

 

The distillery’s whiskeys have earned many awards, including the first run of Total Eclipse Moonshine. We’ll explore that and Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon in today’s #DrinkCurious adventure. Both can be purchased from the distillery’s online store.

 

Before I start, I must thank Casey Jones Distillery for providing me with samples of each in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest reviews.  

 

Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon

  

• Mashbill: 75% corn, 10% wheat, 10% rye, 5% malted barley
• Age: 2.6 years, in #4 charred oak barrels from Kelvin Cooperage
• 50% ABV (100°)
• $29.99 for a 750ml

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass to drink neat. The liquid possessed an orange-amber color. It produced a medium rim and shed medium, slow tears.

 

Nose: The aroma led to smells of corn, nutmeg, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and oak. Drawing the air through my lips provided a wave of pure butterscotch across my tongue.

 

Palate: The Bourbon’s mouthfeel was thin and oily. The front of my palate encountered cinnamon, brown sugar, and orange zest. At mid-palate, I found pecans, caramel, and corn. The back featured nutmeg, barrel char, and black pepper.  

 

Finish: The charred oak carried through the finish and became smoky as it dragged on. Orange zest, pecans, brown sugar, and black pepper were evident. Overall, the finish was long-lasting and zesty.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I found several exciting and unique offerings when I visited the distillery last year. Obviously, the Total Eclipse Bourbon wasn’t quite ready. This limited-edition, four-grain Bourbon is tasty and full of character. In my opinion, it is worth grabbing a Bottle.

 

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Total Eclipse Moonshine

  

• Mashbill: 50% corn, 50% cane sugar
• 50% ABV (100°)
• $29.99 for a 750ml

 

Appearance: I poured this moonshine into a Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. It was crystal clear, like water. I’ve had some that had a yellow tinge. That’s not the case with Total Eclipse. The microthin rim gave up slow, medium tears.

 

Note: Many moonshines smell like buttered popcorn. That sensation was present, but I also found fresh-cut lemon grass. Inhaling the vapor into my mouth provided something agave-like.  

 

Palate: The texture was airy. Due to the lack of aging, there wasn’t much depth to the taste; there was no front, middle, or back. Sweet corn was obvious. The more I sipped, the sweeter it became.  

 

Finish: After I swallowed, what was left behind was a combination of sweet corn and white pepper. It retained a slight sizzle on my tongue; the throat didn’t follow. Its duration was medium.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Most of my reviewed moonshines have been flavored. I don’t explore this category much and don’t consider myself an expert. A majority of the moonshines you see on store shelves are 40% ABV (80°). Total Eclipse is 20 points higher, and it shows in especially the finish. The price is on the high side, but when you consider the higher proof and that it is a limited-edition product, the premium becomes acceptable. Should it take a Bottle rating? I believe so. 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.