Review of Big Easy Whiskey

The Big Easy. You know what that means – New Orleans! The Big Easy is one of the most charming and culturally diverse Southern cities in the United States. It is the birthplace of Jazz and Cajun cuisine, and there is always some sort of celebration, including, of course, Mardi Gras.

 

In 2019, a group of spirits industry veterans founded Big Easy Spirits Company, intending to provide fans with "real spirits from real places that were damned delicious to drink" while paying homage to New Orleans's cultural diversity and ingenuity.

 

Their first launch is Big Easy Whiskey, a flavored whiskey that's meant to make flavored whiskey respectable again by doing things differently and not just another revision of the same-old, same-old on store shelves.

 

"Bold and boozy, bitter and sweet. Big Easy is a 5-year aged whiskey made from a traditional Bourbon mash. Infused with our Old Fashioned blend of herbs, spices, and fruit, the flavors needed to drink without pretension, or with it if you want." – Big Easy Spirits Company

 

Big Easy started with a Bourbon mash of 81% corn, 15% rye, and 4% malted barley, made at undisclosed Kentucky and Indiana distilleries. The whiskey was aged in vintage cooperage. We don't know whether those barrels were recharred or simply used as-is. There are a total of 24 herbs, spices, botanicals, and fruits – all of them natural and each selected by Master Blender Kieran Walsh - that were individually infused and then blended into the whiskey, each chosen by. If Kieran's name rings a bell, it should. He started in the wine business before being on the founding team at High West Distillery in Utah.

 

Big Easy Whiskey can be shipped directly to consumers in 46 states and Washington, DC. Big Easy can be purchased on its website, and a portion of each sale helps support charities tied to local hospitality workers and musicians—as these are the people who make New Orleans, New Orleans. Kieran has suggested there's a Straight Bourbon and a Rum in the works; however, for now, Big Easy Whiskey is its portfolio.

 

The biggest question, of course, is how does Big Easy taste? I am grateful to the team for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Flavored Whiskey
• Distiller: Undisclosed Kentucky and Indiana distilleries
• Age: 5 years
• Mashbill: 81% corn, 15% rye, 4% malted barley
• Cooperage: Vintage Bourbon barrels
• Alcohol Content: 43% ABV (86°)
• Price per 750mL: $34.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. It possessed a brilliant, golden color. A medium rim discharged evenly spaced, thicker tears that moved at a snail's pace.

 

Nose: I let Big Easy acclimate for about 15 minutes before beginning my sniffing journey. I found the aroma somewhat confusing; there was a mishmash of orange marmalade, cinnamon, allspice, vanilla bean, and bold herbs. Drawing the air through my lips brought a sensation of lemon oil and graham crackers.

 

Palate: Big Easy's mouthfeel was thick and creamy, with a dense punch of cinnamon graham crackers and a less prominent taste of lemon oil. My mid-palate discovered flavors of orange peel, rhubarb, and bitters. The back included cedar, allspice, and nutmeg.

 

Finish: In an unusual twist, the back was sweet with candied orange slices and vanilla, then featured nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice. It seemed relatively short, so I pulled out my stopwatch. The duration was 1:02, putting it in the medium venue.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: One thing I always keep in mind is that the #DrinkCurious lifestyle demands that I give everything a fair chance. When I read that Kieran was a big fan of Amaro, an Italian, herbal digestif, I was uneasy (pun intended).

 

The smells confirmed my trepidation. Man, there were all things herbal happening, which, combined with the orange marmalade in particular, made me crinkle my nose.

 

Then came the taste, and this was as if someone switched glasses on me. I prepped myself for strong herbal notes. Instead, that graham cracker introduction threw me for a loop. It gently brought in the fruity, herbal, and spicy notes.

 

And, you know what? My fear was completely unjustified; I liked it, and the more I sipped it, the more attractive it became. That wasn't any influence of the alcohol; the blend of flavors and sensations just worked. It is an easy sipper and aptly named, and deserves 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.