Indian Creek Distillery's 1820, Seven Staleys & American Roadhouse #1 Bourbon Reviews

 

You have to go way back in the time machine for the entire story behind Indian Creek Distillery. The adventure begins in England in the 1400s. In an attempt to evade religious persecution, the Stahli family emigrated to Holland, where they lived until 1737, when, unfortunately, they experienced similar persecution. Jakob Stali chartered a ship for his family called Charming Nancy, and they, along with other Amish settlers, traveled to Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. Jakob settled in Frederick, Maryland.

 

A handful of generations later, Joseph and Julianne Staley (the last name was anglicized) moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and were considered Pennsylvania Dutch because of their religious practices. They were… prolific… with 16 children, several of whom moved on to the Northwest Territory. David, Henry, and Elias settled in Ohio. As accomplished millwrights, they constructed grist mills throughout Greene, Montgomery, and Miami counties.

 

Elias was a distiller as well. He owned a handful of distilleries and grist mills in Dayton; one, he co-owned with John Rench when he was only 24. John contracted with Elias, David, and Henry to build a grist mill along Indian Creek in Bethel Township. The project was finished in 1818, and John passed away. Elias purchased John’s farm and grist mill from the estate. In 1820, Elias built the brick StillHouse directly across the road from the grist mill.

 

As Elias’ reputation grew, so did the demand for his whiskey. Distilling constantly day and night, Elias soon had 100 to 400 barrels aging in his warehouse, and he was shipping barrels even to Union soldiers during the Civil War. All of that stopped when President Lincoln imposed a whiskey excise tax. Elias had no desire to pay taxes and would rather quit than do so.

 

Elias passed away in 1866, and his sons, Andrew, John, and Simon, resumed distilling operations and paid their lawful taxes. Registered as Distillery #5 in Ohio’s District 10, the trio was known as the Staley Boys. They modernized the StillHouse, so it was less reliant on the river’s water level.

 

That’s when, in Cleveland, Carey Nation got a bug up her butt and started her Women’s Temperance Movement. The Volstead Act hit, and in 1920, it spelled doom for Distillery #5. Simon’s son, George Washington Staley, was the last distiller of the original Indian Creek Distillery. But before the end, he had sold off his aging stocks and hidden his distilling equipment.

 

As it turned out, Tom Widener, the revenuer for District 10, was best buddies with George and turned a blind eye to knowing where the stills were. George had the wherewithal to jot down his Rye whiskey recipe, but was never able to resume distilling.

 

Ninety-two years later, Joe and his wife, Staley descendant Missy Duer, unpacked and restored the double copper pot stills built in 1820 on the same family farm and rebuilt the distillery. They purchase rye and corn from a local farmer to use in the mash, and refer to their products as Legendary Ohio Frontier Whiskeys. There’s no automation, no computers, and everything is done as closely as possible to how Elias did things.

 

“The Pioneering Spirit tapped us on our shoulders and whispered in our hearts to begin again that which was long gone, but not forgotten. The original distillery had fallen into ruin after Prohibition and was the only piece of history missing here at the farm. Both Joe and I wanted to resurrect the true “spirit” of the place- the whiskey, my family’s “liquid gold”. The laws in Ohio changed, allowing Distilleries to be operated once again, so we saw an opportunity and took a risk, knowing that the biggest risk was to do nothing at all.

So, with a wing and a prayer and a wink and nod from my ancestors, we ventured into the crazy competitive ‘Land of Whiskey’.” – Missy Duer, Preservationist, Dreamer, Whiskey Merchant... 6th generation Pioneer

 

That’s a long, complicated story, but I felt it was important to share. Today, I’m exploring three of Indian Creek Distillery’s Bourbons: 1820 Bourbon, Seven Staleys American Bourbon Whiskey, and American BondHouse No. 1 Bourbon. Nothing is sourced; it is 100% their own distillate.

 

Does all of this history and dedication translate to good whiskey? We’ll #DrinkCurious to answer that. First, I must thank Indian Creek Distillery for providing me with samples of these whiskeys in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest reviews.

 

On a side note, I drank each expression neat from a fresh Glencairn glass and allowed 15 minutes for the whiskeys to acclimate before my nosing.

 

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1820 Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Indian Creek Distillery
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 65% corn, 20% rye, 15% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 50% ABV (100°)
• Price per 750mL: $51.00
• Non-Chill Filtered

 

Appearance: The honey amber color seemed inviting. A medium rim produced thick, evenly spaced, syrupy tears.

 

Nose: 1820 Bourbon had a potent aroma. I smelled cinnamon, nutmeg, charred oak, roasted almonds, toffee, and orange zest. When I drew in a breath through my lips, I tasted fried plantains.

 

Palate: There was an oily, medium-weight mouthfeel that lacked any palate shock. On the front were notes of fried plantains, baked apples, and blanched almonds. My mid-palate encountered toffee, nutmeg, and orange zest, while the back included soft oak, powdered cinnamon, and pipe tobacco.

 

Finish: Pipe tobacco, fried plantains, baked apples, powdered cinnamon, and oak carry through the entire very level finish. Toward the end, there was even a gentle kiss of smoke. At 1:24, this is a medium- to long-duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: 1820 Bourbon was an incredibly easy sipper. I had to double-check the stated proof because it didn’t perform anything like your average 100-proofer. It has the potential to be a dangerous pour, meaning that you’ll likely feel fine until you stand up. If you told me this was in the high 80s or very low 90s, I’d believe you.

 

There’s plenty to enjoy about 1820 Bourbon. It is sweet, flavorful, well-balanced, and I couldn’t find a single thing that even those new to Bourbon might dislike. This one is a winner; it snags my Bottle rating.  

 

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Seven Staleys American Bourbon Whiskey

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Indian Creek Distillery
• Age: Less than 4 years
• Mashbill: 95% corn, 5% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, charred 53-gallon oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 53.5% ABV (107°)
• Price per 750mL: $60.00
• Non-Chill Filtered

 

Appearance: Seven Staleys featured a burnt orange hue, a husky rim, and thick, very wide but evenly spaced, slow tears.

 

Nose: The first smell I encountered was brown sugar. Subsequent sniffs offered notes of oak, molasses, and cinnamon. When I pulled the vapor into my mouth, I discovered thick caramel.

 

Palate: The dense, creamy texture was warm, with a molasses-and-clove palate shock. Additional sips exposed notes of caramel and molasses on the front, with cinnamon spice, cocoa nibs, and ripe plums hitting my mid-palate. Charred oak, clove, and black pepper formed on the back of my palate.

 

Finish: Dark chocolate, caramel, plums, molasses, charred oak, and clove each competed for my attention. Black pepper dispersed the crowd; however, charred oak and dark chocolate returned once the coast was clear. The overall duration was 2:14, which I’d consider very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: My number one piece of advice is that age is just a number. I’ve had excellent young whiskeys and undrinkable older ones. Essentially, the whiskey is ready when it is ready.

 

Frankly, I was taken aback by all of the spice notes, which I assume come from its interaction with the wood. The almost exclusive corn content should have created a very sweet Bourbon, yet that wasn’t the case with Seven Staleys.

 

The warming sensation felt a handful of points above its stated 107°; it isn’t a complaint, just an observation. The incredibly long finish didn’t just captivate my attention; it commanded it. It is definitely not a whiskey you want to have an important conversation over because it is challenging to concentrate on anything else. Again, not a knock, just my thoughts.

 

I really enjoyed Seven Staleys American Bourbon Whiskey. There’s plenty of return on investment here, and I commend the Duers for coming up with such a tasty pour. All of this is a reflection of why it earns my Bottle rating.

 

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American BondHouse No. 1 Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Indian Creek Distillery
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 95% corn, 5% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, charred 53-gallon oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 60% ABV (120°)
• Price per 750mL: $80.00
• Non-Chill Filtered

 

Appearance: This Bourbon had a light, brassy appearance. A thin rim created thick, crazed, fast tears.

 

Nose: My olfactory sense detected a bold experience comprised of rich toffee, cherry pie filling, caramel, and brown sugar. Inhaling the vapor offered a taste of Werther’s Originals candy.

 

Palate: My initial sip suggested a creamy, weighty texture and an intense, cherry cough syrup palate shock. I tried again, and this time I found a ton of cherry pie filling on the front. Midway through were notes of caramel and toffee. The back tasted of black pepper, dry leather, and oak tannins.  

 

Finish: The long, lingering, ramped-up finish featured black pepper, oak tannins, leather, toffee, cinnamon Red Hots, and barrel char, all of which were overwhelmed by the cherry cough syrup that remained through its crescendo. The Energizer Bunny duration lasted 3:14.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I couldn’t help but notice how different American Bondhouse No. 1 was compared to Seven Staleys. The mashbills were the same; I have no idea if different char or toast levels were involved, but these were two independent whiskeys.

 

I used an eyedropper to add two drops of distilled water to my glass to understand how lowering the proof might affect the sipping experience. It brought cinnamon and nutmeg to the nose, with cherry pie filling taking second stage. The mouthfeel thickened, and the cherry cough syrup seemed even stronger, drowning out the other characteristics. Even proofed down, it numbed the roof of my mouth.

 

I must admit I wasn’t in love with Bondhouse No. 1. I mostly attributed it to palate shock, which is a bit unfair, as I have always said you shouldn’t judge any whiskey with the first sip. The issue is that I found it hot for 120°, and it seemed disjointed. If you want a punch in the mouth of heat, this one’s for you. If you want something balanced and not overwhelming, you should look elsewhere. Even with added water, I didn’t enjoy what I was drinking. Especially for the money, it is lacking, and I must deliver my Bust rating.  

 

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Final Thoughts: That 1820 was an excellent introduction to Indian Creek’s lineup. I’m happy that I took this flight from lowest to highest proofs. That’s how a tasting should happen unless there’s a finishing cycle or something peated.

 

I kept a bit of each in my glass so I could compare them side by side and see which was my favorite. It was a tight competition between the 1820 Bourbon and the Seven Staleys. Rickhouse No. 1 fell well behind. It is a tough call, but I believe 1820 Bourbon edged out the win. You really can’t do wrong with either. 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.