Samuel Maverick Private Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Review

One of the things I love about American whiskey brands is the backstory. It seems like we’re obsessed with a good tale. Most of them talk about how someone’s grandpappy’s grandpappy hid his secret corn likker recipe behind the false wall of a Hoosier cabinet and, by sheer luck, the great-great-great-great-great grandson (do I have enough greats?) was in an antique shop and discovered that very same cabinet for sale.

 

The story of Samuel Augustus Maverick is at least based on history. His family emigrated to the New World in 1624. His grandmother married an American Revolutionary War general named Robert Anderson. His father, Samuel, married Anderson’s daughter, and nine months later, “Gus” was born. By the time he attended Yale, he had gone by “Sam” and had become a lawyer.

 

Sam moved to Georgia to mine gold but was unsuccessful. He then moved to Alabama with 25 of his father’s slaves to run a plantation. Sam didn’t enjoy supervising his slaves or running the plantation, so he picked up in 1835 and moved to San Antonio, Texas. Sam purchased as many tracts of land as he could.

 

Meanwhile, things in Texas got squirrely. Texas was a Mexican territory, and the president was concerned that the Texans would hand the territory to the United States. As things escalated, the Texas Revolution broke out. Fast-forward a bit, and Sam is holed up at The Alamo. He survived the massacre because he was running a message.

 

In 1839, he was elected mayor of San Antonio and served as the city treasurer and Justice of the Peace. He continued to buy land and eventually owned 66,000 acres! After Texas joined the United States, he was elected to the Texas legislature and helped organize the Democratic party.

 

Throughout his life, Sam escaped death many times, whether it was due to battle or disease or nearly drowning when his boat capsized. Sam’s story led to the coining of the term maverick.

 

That, in turn, brings us to Maverick Distilling, which is built on the corner of Sam’s homestead by Dr. Kenneth Maverick, his direct descendant. That, in turn, leads us to today’s review of Maverick Reserve Bottled in Bond Texas Straight Bourbon.

 

This grain-to-glass Bourbon was distilled from a mash of 72% Texas corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley; the Bourbon aged four years in historic bank vaults. I’ve seen many ways brands have warehoused their whiskeys, and a bank vault is new to me! The Bottled-in-Bond Act requires that spirits are packaged at 50% ABV (100°), and a 750ml is available for $80.00.

 

I’m grateful to Maverick Distilling for providing me with a sample of this Bourbon in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover how it tastes.

 

Appearance: I poured Samuel Maverick into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. The liquid possessed a deep, dark caramel color and formed a thin rim with fast tears.

 

Nose: The aroma had notes of pecan pralines, honey, sweet corn, and a bit of smoke, reminding me that this is a Texan distillate. When I drew the air into my mouth, I encountered hickory smoke.

 

Palate: Samuel Maverick’s texture was thick and full-bodied. The front tasted of cherry pie filling and caramel. As it moved to my mid-palate, I found ancient leather, shredded tobacco, and nutmeg. The back featured smoked oak, clove, and dark chocolate.

 

Finish: The medium finish included sweet barbeque sauce (where did that come from?), caramel, pecans, leather, and clove. I timed it at 1:21.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: When I smell smoke in a Texas Bourbon, it is a telltale signal that it will be hellfire. That wasn’t the case here. Maverick Distilling created a sweet, smoky whiskey with complimentary flavors instead of the more common over-oaked aspect. It was flavorful, easy to sip, and ticked almost all of my required boxes.

 

My only concern is the price. I get that four years is longer than the two it would otherwise have been and that holding onto those barrels is unusual for Maverick Distilling. At the same time, this is craft – small craft at that. They aren’t sourcing the distillate.

 

In my opinion, it is on the pricy side. However, it is enjoyable. Bring it down by $15-20; it would be an easy Bottle rating. I’m happy to have it in my whiskey library, yet as it is, I think you should try this one first at a Bar to ensure it is worth that investment. Cheers!

EDIT TO ADD:  On November 20, 2024, I was advised by Mark Shilling, the new president of Maverick Distilling, that the price of a 750ml has been reduced to $58.00. That, of course, satisfied what I said above, and the rating has been updated to a Bottle. 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.