Wooler Whiskey Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

 

Jason Peter Wooler began his journey in the adult beverage industry back in 1993 as a part-time merchandiser. He wanted to learn everything he could about wine and spirits and soon found himself collaborating with well-known brands to bring their wares to market. He retired as an Executive Vice President of one of the nation’s largest wine and spirits distributors.

 

But he wasn’t quite done yet. In 2018, he founded Wooler Brands in Lodi, California. However, in 2021, Jason had what he describes as a “massive” stroke, leaving him in need of care and years of rehabilitation. The great news is that Jason has since recovered and has made Wooler Brands a true family affair. His wife, Amy, is the Operations Manager; his daughter, Betsy, is the Creative Director; his son, Chuck, leads Business Development; and his other son, Patrick, heads up Marketing and Sales. Together, their portfolio includes Wooler Whiskey and JP Vodka.

 

“At Wooler Brands, we don’t believe in ‘bullshit brands.’ The spirits we’re bringing to market are the real deal, crafted with quality, integrity, and a genuine story behind each bottle. We’re serving up booze with a backbone.

Quality is always our first priority, and we’re committed to creating spirits that stand out in a crowded industry. Wooler Brands is here to raise the bar because the world deserves better spirits.” – Wooler Brands

 

Wooler’s logo is a playful sheep with a tilted crown and pays homage to Jason’s English farming roots, as both his parents emigrated from England. While he is very proud to be an American, the logo is a constant reminder of where he came from.

 

Wooler Whiskey is distilled by an undisclosed Bardstown, Kentucky, distillery from a mashbill of 72% corn, 18% rye, 5% malted barley, and 5% wheat. Twenty #3 heavy charred oak barrels spent at least 5 years aging, and after blending and proofing it at 45% ABV (90°), a 750mL package has a suggested price of $39.99. Distribution began in Georgia and California and is expanding to other states.

 

“Take a sip of the good life” is Wooler’s tagline. Is Wooler Whiskey the good life? We can answer that while we #DrinkCurious. Wooler Brands was kind enough to send me a sample of Wooler Whiskey in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Undisclosed Bardstown distillery
• Age: 5 years
• Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 5% malted barley, 5% wheat
• Cooperage: Heavy char #3 53-gallon barrels (20 barrels total)
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• Price per 750mL: $39.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. The whiskey had a beautiful golden straw color and created a medium rim with medium-thick, packed tears.

 

Nose: After allowing for about 15 minutes for the Bourbon to breathe, I was ready to explore the aroma. I smelled pecan pralines, potent orange zest, brown sugar, a dash of cinnamon, and charred oak. When I drew the air into my mouth, it tasted of butterscotch and orange zest.

 

Palate: The first sip revealed a dense, creamy texture with nothing I would describe as a burn or palate shock. I took my second, and easily identified toasted pecans, almonds, and toffee on the front. The mid-palate featured flavors of fresh leather, milk chocolate, and coconut. I encountered charred oak, cinnamon, and mild rye spice on the back.  

 

Finish: The finish was even-keeled, with sweet brown sugar, pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts, yet with slightly spicy notes of cinnamon, rye spice, and oak. The real story is the nuts; they just hogged the spotlight. At 1:22, it approached a longer duration.   

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: To suggest that Wooler Whiskey is an easy sipper is a bit of a disservice to this Bourbon. It went down way too easily; this is one that you can carry on a detailed conversation without being distracted. Don’t mistake what I just said to imply that I found it boring, because it isn’t; simply put, it lacks any harsh notes or anything that might be offensive. It is well-balanced, properly proofed, and puts a smile on my face.

 

Priced at only $40.00, the return on investment is high, and I found today’s experience very enjoyable. My Bottle rating is more than well-deserved. 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.