Review of Les Terribles - Batch 1 Bourbon

Founded in Algoma, Wisconsin, in 2022 by a team of spirits veterans, Unbound Spirits is one I’ve had my eye on for a couple of years. I first stumbled upon them at Distill America in Madison and was impressed. This past May, I ran into them again at this year’s event.

 

Its Chairman and co-CEO, Martin Pazzani, is a fitness author, TED speaker, marketer, and mountaineer. He also spent 13 years at Heublein (now Diageo) and founded the United Spirits Company. Kay Olsen, formerly the Head of Operations at Hueblein, holds that position with Unbound Spirits. Randy Roets, who was with Sazerac, serves as the Head of Sales and Marketing. Kerry Shaw Brown, its co-CEO and Master Blender and Spirits Crafter, is also an accomplished director, filmmaker, and artist.

 

“At Unbound Spirits our goal is to combine the timeless methods of crafting fine spirits, with different ways of thinking about them.

Each spirit in our collection has a fundamental notion of how we feel when we drink it, transporting us to a new state of mind.

Whether you seek adventure or seek solitude, the souls of our bourbons and whiskeys were designed for you.” – Unbound Spirits

 

For many years, Kerry was curious about how, for centuries, whiskey and rum were transported over the sea. He began transporting whiskey in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. As he received feedback from fans, he relocated the operation to Lake Michigan, utilizing larger boats that allowed the barrels to interact in that environment for extended periods.

 

Of course, Kerry isn’t the only one who has transported whiskey on boats. Several companies also do it, some using freshwater, while others use seawater.

That brings us to Les Terribles - Batch 1 Bourbon.

"The idea for Les Terribles was to honor my Great Grandfather Albert Bentley Brown, who was a medic in the Wisconsin 32nd Division in France in 1918. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Cross of France, and the Purple Heart for saving many fallen men during an initial offensive in August of 1918.  The 32nd was fighting under French command and was given the nickname "Les Terribles" for how fierce they were. In fact, the 32nd defeated 23 German divisions without a loss.  My father and older brother were also in the 32nd, so it honors the entire Wisconsin "Red Arrow" Division.  The guys on the label are all 32nd Div vets wearing real WWI uniforms, some from great grandfathers." - Kerry Shaw Brown

 

Les Terribles is a blend of Straight Bourbons that were matured in new, charred oak barrels, then blended and placed in new, 15-gallon charred oak barrels. Then, it was re-casked a third time in Cognac and Armagnac casks for about seven months, and subsequently reblended before bottling.

 

I’ve had Bourbons finished in Cognac casks and Bourbons finished in Armagnac casks, yet never one finished in both. As such, this garnered my interest.

 

So, is Les Terribles Batch 1 any good? Thankfully, Unbound Spirits provided me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and get the answer.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Undisclosed
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels, then finished in another new, 15-gallon charred oak barrel, then finished again in former Cognac and Armagnac casks for seven months.
• Alcohol Content: 47.5% ABV (95°)
• Price per 750mL: $159.99

 

Appearance: I used my Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. It possessed a golden amber color and created a thin rim with cramped, thick, slow tears.

 

Nose: I waited about 15 minutes before delving into the nosing. The aroma included notes of leather, toffee, honey, lime zest, figs, and raisins. When I inhaled the vapor through my lips, I found old leather and oak.

 

Palate: Les Terribles possessed a thick, buttery mouthfeel. There was a lot of oak as part of the palate shock. With my second sip, I tasted crème brulee, leather, and figs on the front. The middle featured sweet tobacco, honey, and cocoa. Flavors of black pepper, candied ginger, and oak spice hit the back of my palate.   

 

Finish: Candied ginger, oak spice, cocoa, figs, and leather remained after the swallow. Then came milk chocolate and a kiss of honey. It was a level, rolling finish that lasted 1:53, making it long to very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Les Terribles drank right at its stated proof. It was well-balanced, and I found it captivating. I truly enjoyed the mouthfeel and the flavors that the Cognac and Armagnac imparted. The finish was nice; there was no burn or punch left in my mouth or throat.

 

I could identify some notes of Cognac and Armagnac. They’re both French brandies; they seemed complementary. I was concerned that two runs through new, charred oak barrels might result in overoaking, and I was pleased that this did not materialize. And, despite three different finishing components, Les Terribles was still very much Bourbon.

 

Obviously, we know nothing about the Bourbons used to make Les Terribles. They could be old or young (although there was absolutely nothing suggesting the use of younger whiskeys). They could be from anywhere in the country. At the end of the day, it didn’t matter; Les Terribles is a delicious pour.

 

That $150.00 investment is challenging to judge. On one hand, I really enjoyed what I was drinking, and it performed as a premium Bourbon should. On the other hand, that’s a lot of money for most Bourbons, and I’d prefer to know that I’m paying for something older to justify the price.

 

When I'm in a conundrum, I always round down. But you should know that the only reason I’m giving this Bourbon my Bar rating is the price. It truly is a lovely drinking experience. 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.