Founded
in Algoma, Wisconsin, in 2022 by a team of spirits veterans, Unbound Spirits is one I’ve had my eye on for the last handful of
years. I discovered them at Distill
America in Madison and was impressed.
Its Chairman, co-founder, 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, and Tears of Llarona tequila. Kerry Shaw Brown, who holds the titles of co-founder, co-CEO, Master Blender, and Spirits Crafter, is also an accomplished director, filmmaker, and artist, though he plays down those last three. They are joined by Kay Olsen, formerly the Head of Operations at Hueblein, and holds that position with Unbound Spirits, along with Randy Roets, who was with Sazerac, and serves as the Head of Sales and Marketing.
For
many years, Kerry was curious about how whiskey and rum had been shipped over
the sea for centuries. He started transporting whiskey in Oconomowoc (one of
those weird Wisconsin city names). 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.
Obviously,
Unbound Spirits isn’t the first to use boats to finish whiskey. However, that
brings us to one of the more unusual whiskeys it offers: Hooligan Soup:
“Hooligan
Soup is Irish whiskey finished over many months in our bourbon casks with maple
staves, which is then finessed by the power of ever-changing marine weather
patterns.
The
result is a marvelously-crafted sipping whiskey without the rough edges. It
takes on a hint of sweetness and the bourbon notes from our small Maelstrom
casks.” – Unbound Spirits
We
don’t know who the distiller is, and the whiskey carries no age statement. The
Bourbon casks used for finishing formerly held The Maelstrom, along with maple staves, and the whiskey was slow proofed over a two-month period prior to bottling.
Unbound
Spirits was kind enough to provide me with a sample of Hooligan Soup in
exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and
learn more about it.
- Whiskey Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
- Distiller: Undisclosed
- Age: NAS
- Mashbill: Undisclosed
- Cooperage: Double-aged in former 15-gallon Maelstrom #3 and #4 charred Bourbon casks and maple staves for about a year
- Alcohol Content: 43% ABV (86°)
- Price per 750mL: $79.99
Appearance: I used
a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. Its brassy color seemed
inviting, and a gentle swirl from my hand created a medium-thick rim with fast,
widely spaced tears.
Nose: I
waited about 15 minutes before bringing the glass to my nose and inhaling. The aroma
had a mild floral quality; what really stood out was maple sugar and berries. As
I continued sniffing, I picked up toffee and honey, and I was able to nail down
the floral note as roses. Drawing the air into my mouth revealed blanched
almonds.
Palate: Hooligan
Soup offered a thick, chewy texture with an oaky palate shock. With my second
sip, I discovered rich vanilla, maple sugar, and milk chocolate on the front. My
mid-palate encountered flavors of hazelnuts, dried apples, and a kiss of
apricots. The back featured dry oak, clove, and leather.
Finish: Things started
out softly and then ramped in intensity, leaving behind tastes of clove, dry
oak, leather, and tobacco leaf, while roasted almonds begged for attention. There
was an Energizer Bunny finish… the duration ran 3:23. Clove was the strongest,
while leather and dry oak were the last to fade.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Hooligan
Soup drank above its stated proof; I’d guess closer to 100°. That finish was
crazy – I cannot believe how long it lasted! Overall, it was a well-balanced,
attention-getting pour. You can taste the love that Kerry poured into it.
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.
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