Reviews of English Prairie Distilling's Old Eighty Bourbon, Ocooch Mountain Brandy & Sugar Shack Shine

 

Last May, I was wandering around Breese Stephens Field in Madison, Wisconsin, attending Distill America. Much like when I visit a bar, at a spirits festival, one of my goals is to discover something new.

 

One of those discoveries was English Prairie Distilling Co. out of Muscoda, Wisconsin. Founded by Scott and Sue Oechsner in October 2022, its mission is "to create and procure a unique blend of spirits that reflect our region and the people in it."

 

English Prairie is a nod to the area's former name. Scott and Sue purchased and transformed a former antique store into the distillery, a defunct bank building into the tasting room, and a large outbuilding into a rickhouse, all of which opened its doors in 2024.

 

Local ingredients are a big deal for English Prairie Distilling Co.; corn comes from a local mill, and grains come from Perlick Farms in Sarona, Wisconsin. Perlick Farms is home to Perlick Distillery, which I've not heard of until today (note to self: must visit Sarona).

 

English Prairie offers a variety of spirits, including whiskey, vodka, rum, and gin. Today, we'll explore Old Eighty Bourbon Whisky, Ocooch Mountain Brandy, and Sugar Shack Shine.

 

Before I embark on this #DrinkCurious adventure, I must thank English Prairie Distilling Co. for providing me with samples in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest reviews. Also, I opted to use Glencairn glasses to sip each spirit neat.

 

And now, on with the show!

 

Old Eighty Bourbon Whisky

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Undisclosed Wisconsin distillery
• Age: 4 years, 8 months
• Mashbill: 70% corn, 18% rye, 12% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• Price per 750mL: $50.00

 

Appearance: Inside my glass, Old Eighty was slightly cloudy; the liquid was the color of rust. While the rim was fragile and thin, it shed wide, fast, tightly packed tears.

 

Nose: After allowing about 15 minutes for the whisky to acclimate, I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and breathed in the vapor. The aroma was very corn-forward. The background included oak, nutmeg, and caramel. The air tasted of nuts and chocolate.

 

Palate: Old Eighty's mouthfeel was thick and creamy, and there was zero palate shock. Flavors of corn, sweet vanilla, and toffee rolled across the front of my palate, transforming into cocoa and hazelnuts in the middle. The back became dry with oak, leather, and clove.

 

Finish: The toasted oak commanded my attention while it engaged in a friendly tussle with black pepper and clove. Hazelnuts weaved in and out of the spice notes. Old leather sucked all the moisture from my mouth. The duration lasted only 0:48, making it short-to-medium.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Old Eighty Bourbon Whisky was uncomplicated until the finish, when the hazelnuts truly challenged my attention deficit disorder. The dryness worked well with the sweeter notes from the front.

 

This Bourbon grew on me, particularly after I figured out the finish. I found it properly proofed and I appreciated the lack of a palate shock. My Bottle rating seems appropriate.

 

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Ocooch Mountain Brandy

 

• Spirit Type: Brandy
• Distiller: Undisclosed California distillery
• Age: 2 years
• Mashbill: Grapes
• Cooperage: Initially aged in oak, then in former 53-gallon Bourbon barrels
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• Price per 750mL: $40.00

 

The Ocooch Mountains are located in the Western Upland region of Wisconsin, better known as the Driftless region.

 

Appearance: My initial thought as I poured the brandy into my glass was that there was no way it had matured for two years in oak. Then I realized nothing suggested the oak was new or charred. It was the color of chardonnay wine. A skinny rim produced medium-width, slow, cramped tears.

 

Nose: I waited about 15 minutes before exploring the aroma. As I nosed my glass, I smelled very soft floral notes along mild oak. I swirled, I held the glass at various lengths and angles from my nose. It was stubborn and refused to provide more. I encountered the same issue when I pulled the air into my mouth; it offered nothing that I could identify.  

 

Palate: Ocooch Mountain's texture was as delicate as the nose and lacked any palate shock. The front and middle were so muted that I almost missed both. I detected lemon pith and floral notes, but couldn't discern them from the front or the middle. The back revealed flavors of oak and leather.

 

Finish: Lemon pith and a mineral quality are all that I could discern.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Ocooch Mountain Brandy is what I'd classify as a sippin' brandy meant for a warm, humid summer's eve. It is far from overpowering, even at its stated 90°. I didn't feel any burn whatsoever; if you put it into a cocktail, the other notes will shine through.

 

Ocooch Mountain Brandy is a curiosity. I've never had one with such a shy nose and palate before. Basically, it is something I'd put into something solely to call it an adult beverage. It has the profile of a classic Sauvignon Blanc. If that's your jam, you'll love this. If not, you won't. As such, it earns my Bar rating.  

 

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Sugar Shack Shine

 

• Spirit Type: Flavored Vodka
• Distiller: Undisclosed Wisconsin distillery
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: Corn and Driftless Gold maple syrup
• Cooperage: Unknown
• Alcohol Content: 30% ABV (60°)
• Price per 750mL: $38.00

 

Appearance: The topaz color seemed inviting. A husky rim shed thick, crazed tears.

 

Nose: As I was pouring it into my glass, I smiled. I didn't even give it a chance to rest; I immediately began the journey! I smelled maple syrup, fresh peanut brittle, cinnamon, and rock candy. I then forced myself to let the spirit breathe. When I returned, the aroma was emboldened with spiced nuts. I took the air through my lips and found maple syrup.  

 

Palate: Sugar Shack's mouthfeel was dense and creamy. Consider it liquid candy. To be more descriptive, I tasted maple syrup, rock candy, brown sugar, and a kiss of cinnamon.  

 

Finish: After I swallowed, maple syrup and cinnamon powder remained. It lasted 0:52, which is a medium duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I yelled to Mrs. Whiskeyfellow from my whiskey library, begging her to come and taste this. Would it make a decent mixer? Probably. Was it fantastic on its own? Most definitely. I loved every moment of this sipping experience.

Sugar Shack Shine falls into the dangerous category because you can sip on this, and you're not going to feel the alcohol until it's time to stand up.

 

Look, Sugar Shack Shine is fantastic in every way possible. Obviously, it snags my Bottle rating.

 

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Final Thoughts: I didn't quite understand the brandy. I found the Bourbon tasty; however, the one that knocked my socks off was the Sugar Shack Shine. I'm impressed with what English Prairie Distilling Co. is doing and look forward to future releases, especially the whiskey (err, whisky). 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.