Review of Effie Jewel & Day Swigger Bourbons from Doc Brown Farm & Distillers

 

Doc Brown Farm & Distillers states that it is Georgia’s only seed-to-still distillery, with everything from start to finish happening in the state. Founded in Senoia by Amy Brown, her son Daniel Williams, and Paige Dockweiler in 2018, the journey began when Amy and Paige read an article about Jimmy Red corn. The duo were pecan farmers in Cordele, so their interest was natural. They were fascinated and determined to distill whiskey using the corn they had read about.

 

Incidentally, the name Doc Brown doesn’t come from Back To The Future. Instead, it is a blend of Paige’s and Amy’s surnames.   

 

Its master distiller is Matt Greif of the Distillery of Modern Art in Chamblee. The team from Doc Brown is involved in each step of the process, from cooking the mash to filling the casks. Gainsville Cooperage is the source of the barrels used for aging.

 

“At Doc Brown Farm & Distillers, our mission is not hidden between the lines; it’s palpable in every sip of our exceptional products. Being a farm distillery, our family’s values and heritage are deeply ingrained in everything we do. We take immense pleasure in sharing the results of our hard work with whiskey enthusiasts across the country.” – Doc Brown Farm & Distillers

 

Today, we’re exploring two of Doc Brown’s newest concoctions: Effie Jewel “Texas Cured” Straight Bourbon and Day Swigger Southern Ember.

 

Effie Jewel is an annual, limited-edition spring release Bourbon. Batch #2 is distilled from heirloom Jimmy Red corn grown on premises. After spending four years in #4 charred oak barrels, which were then transported to Texas, where they spent six months between the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay, exposed to salty air and intense humidity. It is packaged at 50.5% ABV (101°) and has a suggested price of $104.99.

 

Day Swigger is a limited-release, Straight Bourbon finished with toasted pecan wood staves. It, too, is made from their heirloom Jimmy Red Corn. It carries no age statement, is packaged at 46.5% ABV (93°), and carries a suggested price of $49.99.

 

How do these taste? You know what happens next; we #DrinkCurious! First, I must thank Doc Brown Farm & Distillers for samples of each in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Also, I used a fresh Glencairn nosing glass to explore each whiskey neat, then waited 15 minutes to acclimate before interacting with it.

 

Effie Jewel “Texas Cured” Straight Bourbon

 

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Doc Brown Farm & Distillers
• Age: 4 years
• Mashbill: Undisclosed percentage of Jimmy Red corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon, #4 charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 50.5% ABV (101°)
• Price per 750mL: $104.99

 

Appearance: The Bourbon possessed a butterscotch color. The thin rim discharged what resembled a rainstorm of tears. They were tightly packed and incredibly fast.

 

Nose: After allowing the Bourbon to acclimate, I smelled fresh leather, toffee, cornbread, vanilla, and almonds. When I took the vapor into my mouth, I tasted buttered cornbread.

 

Palate: With my first sip, Effie Jewel had a thin, oily texture and produced a peppery palate shock. The second revealed buttered cornbread and vanilla cream on the front. My mid-palate found notes of leather, almonds, and rye spice, leading quickly into cinnamon, black pepper, and oak spice on the back.

 

Finish: Spicy, bold, and drying, the finish included black pepper, cinnamon, rye, oak, and clove. It made the inside of my cheeks tingle. The duration ran a very long 1:50. It seemed longer, but the clock doesn’t lie.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: To me, the most interesting aspect of Effie Jewel was how lightning fast this Bourbon went from sweet to a spice bomb. Each time I returned for another sip, the same thing happened: lots of sweet that drops off a cliff, leaving big spice notes behind.

 

Because of that, Effie Jewel punched a handful of points above her fighting weight. It definitely had an oomph that forced me to pay attention. I’m not sure it would pass for a conversational Bourbon, meaning one that you could carry on a casual conversation while sipping it. You’ll stop mid-sentence and stare at the glass, mulling over what’s going on in your mouth and throat. I guess that makes it a conversation stopper?

 

Regardless, while Effie Jewel is most certainly a good Bourbon, I have a hard time agreeing that it is a $100+ Bourbon. I’m unsure what I’m missing, but my Bar rating seems appropriate.    

 

◊◊◊◊◊

 

Day Swigger Southern Ember

 

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Doc Brown Farm & Distillers
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: Undisclosed percentage of Jimmy Red corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels, then finished with toasted pecan wood staves
• Alcohol Content: 46.5% ABV (93°)
• Price per 750mL: $49.99

 

Appearance: Day Swigger’s amber color seemed inviting and was unbelievably clear. Slow, syrupy tears fell from a medium-thick rim.

 

Nose: The aroma included smells of pecan praline, toasted oak, mincemeat, and a smoky kiss. As I inhaled the air through my lips, I found toasted oak.

 

Palate: The introduction was a soft, creamy mouthfeel with an explosion of sweetness. I tasted toasted oak, orange peel, and brown sugar on the front of my palate. The middle suggested pecans, walnuts, and salted caramel. The back was full of heavily charred oak, ginger spice, and dry leather.

 

Finish: Ginger spice, cinnamon, dry leather, charred oak, and salted caramel parked in my mouth and throat. The last few seconds included a bitter note. It was an even-keeled finish that lasted 2:03, making it very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I love smoky whiskeys no matter where they originate. We tend to associate that with Scotch, yet Day Swigger was definitely more woody than peaty. The mouthfeel was fascinating, and I truly enjoyed the mid-palate’s nuttiness. It also drank several points above the stated proof. Day Swigger is an unusual pour in a very good way.

 

If you’re like me, you’ll find sipping Day Swigger a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The price seems more than fair, and I’m happy to have this one in my whiskey library. The Bottle rating is well deserved.

 

◊◊◊◊◊

 

Final Thoughts: Effie Jewel and Day Swigger were two very different whiskeys despite being made from similar mashbills. Both are quite good, and you can taste the quality. I’m saddened to have to give Effie Jewel a Bar rating; I just think it is overpriced. That tends to happen with limited-edition pours. 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.