Dierks Bentley's Row 94 Broꓘen Branches Bourbon Review

 


It used to be that celebrity-branded whiskeys were almost guaranteed to be nothing more than a hot garbage cash grab. I mean, they were horrible. Then, a few years ago, they started getting better. I don’t know if that was due to celebrities figuring out that these whiskeys weren’t doing them any favors, or if they began to understand the difference between good and bad whiskeys. Either way, they’re no longer something you can simply dismiss.

 

Last year, Country music superstar Dierks Bentley introduced his brand called Row 94. He partnered with Green River Distilling Co., which has a superb reputation. It was a four-year-old, 47% ABV (94°) Bourbon that was affordable at $39.99. Row 94 was named for the year Bentley moved to Nashville to begin his career, as well as a nod to Nashville’s Music Row.

 

Now, Bentley is launching his second Bourbon called Row 94 Broen Branches. Yes, that’s a backwards K (I don’t follow him, and a brief websearch didn’t explain why the K is backward). It is a limited-edition 5-year-old Bourbon that underwent Branch Aging, where fire-toasted oak staves seasoned for up to 24 months were added. It is meant to coincide with Bentley’s Broken Branches tour.

 

"For this limited edition offering, we used fire-toasted Oak staves that had been seasoned for 24 months for the ’Branch Aging,’ lending additional nuance to the whiskey. We produced just 1500 bottles, making this a truly rare craft whiskey that new bourbon lovers and enthusiasts alike will enjoy." - Travis Cantrell, Director of Quality, Lofted Custom Spirits

 

Lofted Custom Spirits is a brand that pairs musicians with whiskey, allowing them to create their own brands, and is under the Lofted Spirits umbrella, which owns Green River Distilling Co. and Bardstown Bourbon Company. Lofted was kind enough to provide me with a sample of Row 94 Broen Branches in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. So, let’s #DrinkCurious and discover what it is all about.

 

 

  • Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
  • Distiller: Green River Distilling Co.
  • Age: 5 years
  • Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted and row barley
  • Cooperage: 53-gallon new, #4 charred oak barrels, then finished with oak staves
  • Alcohol Content: 50% ABV (100°)
  • Price per 750mL: $99.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. It possessed a classic orange amber color and formed a thick rim with massive, tightly spaced, slow tears.

 

Nose: I waited about ten minutes before beginning my sniffing journey. I smelled stewed peaches, plums, butterscotch, and oak. When I drew the aroma into my mouth, I encountered black cherries.

 

Palate: Broen Branches had a buttery texture. The front of my palate found apples, brown sugar, and tobacco leaves. I tasted a quick punch of butterscotch, along with steadier nutmeg and leather on my mid-palate, while the back included flavors of charred oak, cinnamon, and clove.

 

Finish: There was cinnamon and clove, along with butterscotch and oak. There was also a kiss of black pepper. The finish was long and steady, running a full 2:10.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Broen Branches is a lovely Bourbon. Let’s get that out of the way. It is well balanced, it has an interesting combination of flavors, and it drinks at about its stated proof.

 

The addition of oak staves is atypical of what Green River typically offers. Its flagship Bourbon is five years old and 45% ABV (90°) and costs about $35.00. Its Barrel Proof option is about $50.00, and that’s usually around 15-20 proof points higher than what Broen Branches is packaged at.

 

Broen Branches is an easy drinker. So is nearly every Green River Bourbon I’ve had, which is what makes the distillery awesome. Yes, there is that connection with Bentley. If you’re a huge fan, then yeah, you’ll want to spend the money on it. You’d probably agree it is worth the cost of admission.

 

However, I don’t see those qualities adding a Bentley-like premium to this Bourbon. If you’re like me, where you’re more interested in what’s inside the bottle than on the label, I believe you’d concur that Broen Branches deserves a Bar 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.

 


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