MaltyVerse "A Wreck in Kentucky" Single Barrel Bourbon Review

 

I’m not really into cartoons, comics, or gothic novels. However, I have begun noticing the beginnings of a trend of using them on whiskey bottles. I’m not talking about store picks or whiskey clubs – instead, these are from actual brands.

 

The MaltyVerse is the brainchild of Barrel Global, its founder George Koutsakisand, and Carl Harrison, a British artist, illustrator, and character designer.

 

“Whisky and comics is a damned cool combination, isn’t it? As lead artist on the project, the MaltyVerse presents a particular challenge – how to create a rich world of characters, each having a whisky at the core of their agenda?” – Carl Harrison

 

MaltyVerse takes place in the year 2100. Its goal is to meld fine whiskeys (or whiskies, whatever floats your boat) with “thrilling narratives.” The whiskeys involved are all single-cask releases from distilleries worldwide that you know and respect, such as Green River Distilling Co., MB Roland, and Cambus. You can check out a detailed, graphic-rich backstory at MaltyVerse’s website. Each bottle also has a QR code to get exclusive, additional scenes.

 

I know I sound like a get-off-my-lawn guy; I don’t understand why this needs to occur in a future timeline while the real whiskey is here now. However, as I pointed out earlier, comics aren’t my thing. So, more power to the folks at MaltyVerse!

 

Regardless, I’d like to thank MaltyVerse for providing me with a sample of A Wreck in Kentucky, its Green River Distilling Co. release, in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and explore the here and now.

 

Courtesy of MaltyVerse

• Whiskey Type: Single Barrel Bourbon
• Distillery: Green River Distillers Co.
• Age: 6 years
• Mashbill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• Cooperage: New, charred oak
• Alcohol Content: 48% ABV (96°)
• Price per 700mL: $99.99 (only 159 bottles total)

 

Appearance: I poured A Wreck in Kentucky into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. The copper-colored Bourbon created a thicker rim with weighty, widely-spaced, fast tears.

 

Nose: As I started my sniffing experience, I discovered orange rind, lemon zest, mild oak, and vanilla. Drawing the aroma into my mouth exposed me to leather.

 

Palate: The Bourbon’s texture seemed silky as it slid across my tongue and down my throat. The front featured vanilla cream, honey, and roasted almonds. My mid-palate found cherries and fresh tobacco. On the back, I tasted leather, mild rye spice, and soft oak.

 

Finish: Soft oak, leather, vanilla cream, and honey were evident throughout. Cinnamon showed up late and attempted to garner the spotlight; however, the sweeter notes dominated the spices, yet they tried to claw their way back. The duration ran 1:46, making it a long one.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: What’s fascinating is that this six-year 53-gallon short barrel of Bourbon yielded only 159 bottles. While keeping that in mind, A Wreck in Kentucky has been proofed down, which means there was even less whiskey in that barrel! Was it at the top of a rickhouse that saw a lot of sun? Did the barrel leak? Regardless, I totally understand what MaltyVerse means with words such as rare and exciting whiskeys.

 

I love Green River Distilling Co.; it has done many impressive things quickly since becoming part of the Bardstown Bourbon Company family, and its whiskeys are delicious.

 

With all of that said, we’re talking about a $100.00 Bourbon from a distillery that typically markets a 5-year 90° version for about $35.00 and a 118.1° blend of 5, 6, and 7 year Bourbons for $50.00, and barrel-proof, single-cask Bourbon for about $75.00. In full disclosure, those are 71% corn, 21% rye, and 8% malted barley, which is a different mashbill than what MaltyVerse offers. You’re still paying a hefty premium for marketing and included comics. As a writer, I have tremendous respect for artists, and they deserve to be compensated for their talents.

 

A Wreck in Kentucky is a good Bourbon representative of what the Green River offers, and I’d buy this all day long at even $50.00, but not at twice that price. I realize that with this small yield, trying it at a Bar first isn’t realistic; however, that’s my 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.