Tallbird American Whiskey Bourbon Review

 

Guthrie, Oklahoma, is home to WanderFolk Distillery, which claims to be the state’s first legal distillery since 1933. Originally called Prairie Wolf Spirits, David and Hunter Merritt founded it in 2012. WanderFolk also owns the brands Garden Society, Same Old Moses, and Prairie Wolf Spirits.

 

“WanderFolk truly represents the amalgamation of creative minds, converging from a multitude of paths and skillsets, passionately rethinking & handcrafting the world of spirits in our home state of Oklahoma & beyond, one small batch at a time. We take inspiration not only from our peers, but from a variety of industries as well, to create products we find to be one-of-a-kind. Our spirits are created by sommeliers, chefs, bartenders, artists, & creatives, under the mentored hand of some of the most respected names in distilling in the world. 

We wander together with one goal in mind: make world-class products that are as unique & lively as the individuals that enjoy them. We welcome you to wander with us.” – WanderFolk Distillery

 

WanderFolk’s head distiller is Jeffrey Cole, who is the founding president of the United States Bartender’s Guild (USBG) and the Oklahoma Distillers’ Guild. He has also opened dozens of bars across the Midwest.

 

That brings us to the subject of today’s #DrinkCurious adventure: Tallbird. Its name honors the tall, high-performance jets used in the 1950s and 1960s to test faster-than-sound flying speeds.  

 

Tallbird whiskey is a blend of 7-year-old Straight Bourbons from Bardstown Bourbon Company and TN Distilling. Two years of that aging took place in Guthrie, known for its subtropical climate. Summers are warm and humid, while winters are cool and wet. It is packaged at 46.5% ABV (93°), and a 750mL is attractively priced at $25.00. That’s not a typo. Tallbird celebrates the Golden Age of Bourbon, when people bought Bourbon to drink rather than collect and leave on a shelf. To help keep costs down, it has a screwtop closure rather than a cork.   

 

Tallbird is available in retail outlets in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, as well as in its online store.

 

WanderFolk Distilling sent me a sample of Tallbird in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s discover if it indeed fits Bourbon’s Golden Age!

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Bardstown Bourbon Company and TN Distilling
• Age: 7 years
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon #3-4 charred American oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 46.5% ABV (93°)
• Price per 750mL: $25.00

 

Appearance: I poured Tallbird into my Glencairn glass to experience it neat. The whiskey’s butterscotch color seemed inviting, while the liquid formed a husky rim with a syrupy curtain of tears.   

 

Nose: While I was allowing Tallbird my cursory 15-minute window to acclimate, the air in my whiskey library was filled with notes of brown sugar and cherries. Once I was ready to approach the aroma, I smelled cherries, lemon zest, brown sugar, toffee, oak, and nutmeg. When I took the vapor into my mouth, I tasted more lemon zest.

 

Palate: The first sip highlighted a dense, creamy texture and a tang of tanned leather. The second sip revealed leather, butterscotch, and nutmeg on the front of my palate. Next came roasted almonds, vanilla cream, and cherries. The back featured black pepper, rye spice, and oak.

 

Finish: The vanilla cream became intense, while black pepper, rye spice, nutmeg, and clove each vied for my attention. At 1:06, it wasn’t the longest finish, but it wrapped everything up in a nice, neat package.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Some people will be automatically turned off by the screwtop closure. Many years ago, I wrote that while screwtops are superior to cork, they lack cork’s allure. I don’t put much stock in a brand’s packaging as it is more marketing than anything else.

 

Tallbird was a bit of a wild ride: the palate was earthy, then sweet, then spicy, then earthy, sweet, and spicy again. The finish held its own, and the Bourbon seemed properly proofed.

 

Any whiskey at this price point is a contender for my #RespectTheBottomShelf hashtag. Some are either hot garbage or yawners, while others are hidden gems. Tallbird falls under that last category. I found its character would appeal to Bourbon fans while still interesting newbies; it hits that sweet spot. It earns both that and my Bottle rating. 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.