Calvert Extra Blended American Whiskey Review

 

Blended American Whiskey is a vast, welcoming category. It can be pretty much anything, so long as at least 20% of the blend is a Straight Whiskey. The remainder can be other whiskeys or neutral grain spirits (NGS).

 

Produced in Clermont, Kentucky, Calvert Extra is one of the best-selling blended whiskeys in the United States. The brand, Calvert, is part of Luxco’s portfolio. I’m unsure if that refers to the now-defunct Calvert Distilling Company, also known as the Calvert Distillery. It is a safe assumption because the Calvert Distillery became Seagram’s, Seagram’s became MGP, and Luxco is under that umbrella.

 

If you visit Luxco’s website, the only information about Calvert Extra is, “A true blended bourbon, Calvert Extra delivers an incredibly delicious, robust and quality bourbon.”

 

What does that even mean? It isn’t Bourbon, because Blended Bourbon must contain at least 51% Straight Bourbon, yet Calvert Extra is a blend of 70% NGS and 30% Straight Whiskey. As such, the only category it can fit in (which, incidentally, is how the label reads) is Blended American Whiskey. Could that whiskey component be Bourbon? Absolutely, and perhaps that’s what the website intends to convey.

 

I plucked a 50mL taster from Chill Zone Liquor in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, for $0.99. Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover what we can.

 

• Whiskey Type: Blended American Whiskey
• Distiller: Undisclosed, produced by Luxco
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 70% grain neutral spirits and 30% straight whiskey
• Cooperage: Undisclosed
• Alcohol Content: 40% ABV (80°)
• Price per 750mL: $9.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. Blended American Whiskey can have added coloring. I observed its gold hue. Calvert Extra formed a thick rim with hefty, crazed, fast tears.

 

Nose: I need to be frank here. As I waited about 30 minutes for this whiskey to “breathe,” I was displeased with the smell of the air in my whiskey library, which was both antiseptic and medicinal. It seemed as if I was hanging out in a hospital ward while the staff cleaned. If you’re wondering why I delayed the nosing experience, I wanted all of that unpleasantness to evaporate – and it did.

 

When I started sniffing, I encountered acorns and hazelnuts, and beneath those, vanilla. The air in my mouth tasted of vanilla, although it seemed artificial.

 

Palate: Calvert Extra’s texture was silky, and there wasn’t anything I’d describe as a palate shock. The front was like thick vanilla frosting. My mid-palate found blanched almonds and toasted hazelnuts. The back offered notes of oak and pepper, both of which seemed, again, artificial.

 

Finish: Calvert Extra’s finish was quick, with notes of artificial vanilla, toasted hazelnuts, and oak. It lasted a mere 29 seconds (and I believe I am being generous).

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Calvert Extra was, in a note, boring. It lacked any real depth and, aside from the initial aromas, was utterly unremarkable. Would I drink this neat? I can’t think of a reason why I’d want to. In my opinion, this whiskey is strictly a rail mixer. It is neither good, bad, nor ugly. It just is, and as such, it takes my 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.