Ten Day Bourbon "Surgeon's Cut" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch 1 Review

 

If you've ever watched The Beverly Hillbillies, you’ll know that Granny, the former backwoods doctor, used to always have a jug of her “Rheumatism medicine” on hand that could “cure” a lot more than that.

 

All jokes aside, distilling and medicine have a relationship going back to Hippocrates, who noted that sailors discovered if they distilled seawater, they could have an endless supply of drinking water while on their voyages.

 

In 1240, Aragon, the physician of three popes and a king, explored the notion of brandy and wine being used for medicinal purposes. He cited that drinking aqua vitae made him feel youthful. Around the same time, Taddeo Alderotti, an Italian physician and university professor, discovered that the more times you distilled something, the more potent it became. He wrote that aqua vitae could reduce fevers, sciatica, and toothaches and disinfect wounds.

 

I’ll pause right here and tell you that I am neither a doctor nor do I play one on television. As such, take any medical statements with a shot of whiskey.

 

Only six distilleries nationwide could legally distill spirits when Prohibition reared its ugly head. The rest were shuttered (or continued illegally). You could still have whiskey, but it required a prescription from a doctor, a dentist, or a veterinarian (yes, really!), and the script was good for only ten days’ worth.

 

Fast-forward to 2017. Dr. Rob Wilson, an Ear, Nose, and Throat physician, is reading Dream Big by Bob Goff. It caused Dr. Rob to think about his dreams and desires. He was a history buff and living in Kentucky, and he fulfilled some of those dreams. But it took him three years to realize that his passion for building a Bourbon brand remained untouched. He was in a package shop perusing the Bourbons, and the thought of Doctor’s Blend Bourbon struck him between his eyes.

 

Nine months later, Dr. Rob had been researching and planning, and he approached a friend – another doctor – and invited him to join. Eventually, three doctors were involved, and the dream became a reality in 2023.

 

Doctor’s Blend Bourbon produces Ten Day Bourbon, a nod to the ten-day script that could be written during Prohibition. There are currently three expressions: A Small Batch Bourbon, a Single Barrel High Rye, and a seasonal release called Surgeon’s Cut. Today, we’ll explore the latter.

 

“Honoring the medical professionals that shaped medicinal whiskey's history, this release embodies a depth of flavor and complexity that only surgical craftsmanship can reveal.

Surgeon’s Cut is bottled at barrel strength, capturing the pure essence and robust flavors straight from the cask. Each pour offers an unfiltered, bold experience that showcases the full intensity and character of our carefully aged Bourbon.” – Ten Day Bourbon

 

Surgeon’s Cut begins with a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. The distiller is undisclosed; however, it is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It spent 8 years in new, charred oak and is packaged at its barrel proof of 55% ABV (110°). A 750ml is priced at $99.99. The yield is 355 bottles.

 

Ten Day Bourbon was kind enough to provide me with a sample of Surgeon’s Cut in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. So, let’s #DrinkCurious and explore what this is all about!

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. The orange amber liquid created a medium rim with massive, slow, widely spaced tears.

 

Nose: I brought my glass under my nostrils and inhaled. I smelled corn, vanilla, mild cherries, oak, and nutmeg. Drawing the air into my mouth suggested caramel.

 

Palate: I encountered a creamy texture as I took my first sip. The proof was evident but not overwhelming. I tasted strawberries, cherries, and corn on the front of my palate. The mid-palate offered leather, tobacco leaf, and orange zest. Flavors of rye, oak spice, and white pepper were on the back.

 

Finish: The long-lasting finish featured plenty of oak tannin, white pepper, and clove, which were tempered slightly by cherries. I timed the duration; it ran 2:03 before completely dissipating.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: At one point, I thought I had the distiller nailed down – it seemed very Barton-like. Yet, the heavier oak component caused me to doubt that assessment. At the end of the day, that doesn’t have any impact on the rating.

 

I found Surgeon’s Cut to have plenty of character and depth. I like woody Bourbons, and this one fits the bill nicely. The finish length allowed me to take my time and fully appreciate what was in my glass. It is, without doubt, enticing.

 

An eight-year-old, barrel-proof Bourbon runs somewhere in the neighborhood of what this one cost, and in my opinion, Ten Day Bourbon Surgeon’s Cut earns my Bottle 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.