Review of Broadstreet Infamous Core Bourbons

 

I do love a good backstory. It doesn’t even have to be true; it just has to be original. None of this, “I found my grandpappy’s grandpappy’s secret recipe in a Hoosier cabinet that we bought at an antique store” stuff. There are more bonus points for the story being authentic.

 

Lorenze Tremonti (also known as “LT”) was a young, California-based hip-hop artist. He, along with brothers George and Mark Matuszek, formed a group called TripleDeep. Yeah, I Googled it to see if that was true (it is). They released four albums between 1996 and 2001 before breaking up. LT and George remained friends after that, and then, in 2015, George passed away.

 

His passing caused LT and Mark to reconnect and rekindle their friendship. Mark introduced LT to Bourbon, and the duo attended the Orlando Whiskey Festival, which Mark founded. LT was hooked.

 

George’s stage name was “Infamous.” As LT delved into distilling and passionately refined his craft, he founded his brand, along with Mark and several others, calling it Broadstreet Infamous, named in honor of George.

 

“Everything about Broadstreet Infamous comes from the heart and soul. We operate out of the passion to create! From the branding to the juice, our team exudes extraordinary artistry and craftsmanship. With infectious energy, the team at Broadstreet Infamous aims to forge an indelible mark on the world of spirits.” – Broadstreet Infamous

 

The distillery sits across from the Old Greene County Jail in Greensboro, Georgia. It seemed like a satisfying location, as the jail was “home” to many moonshiners during Prohibition.  

 

Today, we’ll explore its three core offerings: Legacy Series: Sheriff L.L. Watt Edition, Wheater’s Select Summer Wheat, and Speakeasy Preferred Prohibition Proof. Each can be purchased directly from its online store.

 

Before I get started, I must thank Broadstreet Infamous for providing me with samples of each in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Also, I used a fresh Glencairn glass and sipped each Bourbon neat.

 

Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover what they’re all about!

 

Legacy Series: Sheriff L.L. Watt Edition

 

Sheriff L.L. Watt was the law in town during Prohibition and was adamant about tracking down and arresting moonshiners.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 4 years
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: 53-gallon, new charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 46% ABV (92°)
• Price per 750mL: $39.99

 

Appearance: The brass-colored Bourbon created a thin rim with tightly packed, medium tears.

 

Nose: As I brought the glass to my nostrils and inhaled, I encountered corn, vanilla, muted oak, and brown sugar. Drawing the air into my mouth, I found more vanilla.

 

Palate: Legacy Series had a slick, medium-bodied mouthfeel. On the front were vanilla, corn, and baked apples, while the mid-palate featured milk chocolate and nutmeg. The back included oak, mild rye spice, and tobacco.

 

Finish: Tobacco, stronger oak, vanilla, and baked apples carried through after my swallow. The duration lasted 0:50, placing it in the medium-short venue.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Legacy Series: Sheriff L.L. Watt Edition is a good representation of a 4-year MGP-distilled Bourbon. I’ll take a guess and say it was their 21% Rye mashbill. I would have been wrong with that guess, too! LT informed me that the Bourbons are all multi-barrel custom blends. 

It drank right about at its stated proof, and while there was nothing not to like, it was also an unremarkable, safe whiskey. For 92°, $40.00 is a reasonable ask. My Bar rating on this one is warranted.

 

◊◊◊◊◊

 

Wheater’s Select Summer Wheat

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 4 years
• Mashbill: Undisclosed wheated mashbill
• Cooperage: 53-gallon, new charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 49.5% ABV (99°)
• Price per 750mL: $54.99

 

Appearance: Summer Wheat had a bright, golden color and produced a thinner rim with fat, fast, close tears.

 

Nose: As I sniffed this wheated Bourbon, I detected notes of corn, vanilla, cinnamon, starfruit, and cedar. I pulled the vapor through my lips, exposing me to corn.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was soft and velvety. The first thing I tasted was cherries, followed closely by vanilla and brown sugar. My mid-palate found leather, tobacco, and a bit of char. The back consisted of ginger, cinnamon, and oak spices.

 

Finish: What remained included caramel, vanilla, ginger spice, leather, and cherries. I timed it at 1:32, making the finish medium-long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Cedar on the nose is one of those polarizing scents. It can be indicative of smaller cooperage – it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is. Also, distilled wheat is tasteless; it typically imparts a softer mouthfeel while enhancing other components of the mashbill and oak.

 

Ginger notes from a wheated Bourbon mashbill are less common. It is something I often encounter with wheat whiskeys. I happen to enjoy ginger spices and was happy to find it here, making it a somewhat abnormal (in a good way) MGP Bourbon.

 

Wheater’s Select Summer Wheat drank lower than its stated proof, making it an easy sipper. It is well worth the price of admission and earns my Bottle rating.

 

◊◊◊◊◊

 

Speakeasy Preferred Prohibition Proof

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 8 years
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: 53-gallon, new charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 54.5% ABV (109°)
• Price per 750mL: $79.99

 

Appearance: A deep, orange amber made for a pleasing appearance. The Bourbon formed a thicker rim with thick, crowded, fast tears.  

 

Nose: Due to its higher proof, I gave the Bourbon some extra time to relax in the glass before approaching it. Once I did, my olfactory sense plucked toffee, torched crème brulee, oak, baked apples, and a kiss of cinnamon. Inhaling the air through my lips produced notes of cinnamon and caramel.  

 

Palate: The texture was dense and creamy. The front of my palate found flavors of dark cherries, plums, and vanilla. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and spiced nuts hit my mid-palate. The back featured charred oak, dry leather, and caramel.

 

Finish: Caramel, leather, barrel char, cinnamon, and dark cherries stuck around for a sweet and spicy finish. It started a bit muted and slowly ramped up in intensity. The duration was incredibly long, at 3:32!

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: If you served Speakeasy Preferred Prohibition Proof to me blind and asked me to guess the proof, I’d suggest somewhere around 98° to 100°. It definitely did not act like 109°. That mouthfeel was partially responsible for that.

 

Speakeasy Preferred Prohibition Proof is most everything you’d want in a Bourbon. There were layers of flavors, a fascinating finish, and it was a delightful sipping experience. At 8 years old, the price isn’t unusual, especially for the proof. I loved it; I believe you will, too. My Bottle rating is well-deserved.

 

◊◊◊◊◊

 

Final Thoughts: Which did I like best? Reverse the order of this review: Speakeasy Preferred Prohibition Proof, then Wheater’s Select Summer Wheat, and finally Legacy Series: Sheriff L.L. Watt Edition. I appreciate what LT, Double M, and the rest of the team are going for and look forward to what Broadstreet Infamous has in store when its own stocks are ready to be bottled. 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.