Warbringer Mesquite Smoked Southwest Bourbon (Batch 000--021) Review

 

This past November, I reviewed Warbringer Mesquite Smoked Southwest Bourbon. Without rehashing the whole backstory, this is how that review turned out:

 

“Warbringer will be polarizing Bourbon. Folks who enjoy smoky whiskeys, including peated Scotches, might appreciate what’s in their glass. Those who want a classical Bourbon could find it off-putting. Frankly, I tasted nothing of the PX Sherry influence, which my palate is finely attuned to. I’m stuck somewhere in the middle. While unique, I can’t shove it into the OMG-you-must-try-this venue. Instead, it describes the whole reason that my Bar category exists.”

 

I was surprised when a second bottle showed up at the end of the year. When I questioned Sespe Creek Distillery, they made me aware this was a new batch from a new distiller and requested that I #DrinkCurious again and share my thoughts. For the record, this is Batch 000-21. I did not note the batch number from my original review.

 

Warbringer is a pot-distilled Bourbon made from a mash of 65% mesquite smoked grits corn, 20% fire-roasted corn, and 15% malted rye. That is different than the batch I reviewed in November. The Bourbon was aged in new, #4 charred oak barrels for at least four years (it carries no age statement). It then went through a finishing cycle using ex-PX Sherry casks. Non-chill filtered and naturally colored, it is packaged at 49% ABV (98°), and a 750ml will set you back about $59.99.

 

Now that you know all about what’s inside the bottle, it is time for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. Like the first one I reviewed, it was a murky rust-colored whiskey. A massive rim formed slow, tightly spaced, thick tears.

 

Nose: The mesquite was easily identifiable, so much so that I could smell it from across my whiskey library. When I brought the glass to my face, I found more mesquite, along with vanilla, roasted corn, and barrel char. That was somewhat different than the previous batch. Inhaling the vapor through my lips exposed me to salted caramel.

 

Palate: Warbringer possessed a thin, oily mouthfeel. The front consisted of fire-roasted corn. A few burnt kernels made that taste more authentic. The middle included cocoa powder and RC cola. Flavors of barrel char, smoked mesquite, and limestone were on the back.

 

Finish: Limestone and smoked mesquite were featured throughout the finish. The cola fell off quickly, followed closely by the fire-roasted corn. There was a hint of Dijon mustard. I timed the duration at 3:04; it left a slight tingle on my hard palate.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Like the previous batch, I found nothing that hinted at PX Sherry cask influence. It may have contributed to taming the mesquite. Unlike the previous one, I found Warbringer to be far more palatable. It is still a very unusual Bourbon; you shouldn’t confuse smoked mesquite with peat –two very different animals.

 

This batch’s finish was shorter than the previous – by over a minute. But, that’s like saying the trip is 35 light years versus 40. It was still incredibly long!

 

Warbringer is still a niche Bourbon; however, I believe this later version will have slightly larger appeal. It wouldn’t be an everyday drinker for me, but I could see myself reaching for it as a change of pace. My Bar rating is still appropriate. 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.