Ghostwood's "3 Brothers Bourbon" Review

 

Sometime in 2014, Lucas Perks was asked what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He decided that making whiskey was best, and he set out to do exactly that. Lucas took a 5-gallon copper still and a hot plate and, inside the family barn, started tinkering with recipes.

 

One year and 57 recipes later, Lucas distilled his first four-grain Bourbon, using a mashbill of 52% Illinois-grown yellow corn, 30% rye, 10% red wheat, and 8% malted barley. He called it Ghostwood, named for the forests and cornfields on his family ranch in northern Illinois.

 

Ghostwood’s first release is called Original Blended Bourbon Whiskey, which I reviewed in September. The brand has grown to include Barrel Proof “Black” Blended Bourbon, Blended Bourbon “Gold” Finished in Chardonnay Casks, and, as the subject of today’s review, 3 Brothers Bourbon Whiskey.

 

“There is a particular crispness to the air in late September — the kind that calls for a thick coat, a burning fire and, for a ranching family, a chance to reflect on the harvest and look forward to the holidays ahead.

It was tradition for my brothers and me to find a quiet spot in the oak woods around our property, sneak away with a few beers or a bottle of whiskey, and simply be ourselves among the trees.” – Lucas Perks, Founder & Owner

 

3 Brothers Bourbon was distilled from MGP’s mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. It spent 6 years in new, charred oak barrels, then was packaged at 40% ABV (80°). A 750mL bottle has a suggested price of $49.00.

 

How does it taste? Thankfully, Ghostwood sent me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and find out!

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 6 years
• Mashbill: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 40% ABV (80°)
• Price per 750mL: $49.00

 

Appearance: I poured 3 Brothers Bourbon neat into my Glencairn glass. The yellow-gold liquid created a medium rim with a wavy curtain of tears.

 

Nose: As I was waiting my cursory 15 minutes for the Bourbon to breathe, I couldn’t help but notice the air in my whiskey library smelled of caramel. When I was ready to explore what was inside my glass, I detected bold orange peel, caramel, vanilla, and spiced nuts. Pulling the air inside my mouth exposed me to vanilla.

 

Palate: I took my first sip and encountered a soft, creamy texture with a shock of smoked oak. I drew another, and this time, I tasted vanilla cream and cocoa on the front of my palate. Next came new leather and caramel. The back included cinnamon and sweet oak.  

 

Finish: The sweet oak became charred as it melded with the cinnamon. Flavors of vanilla cream, milk chocolate, and caramel remained. Barrel char stuck around the longest; it finally fell off at 1:12. That’s squarely a medium duration.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Some whiskeys work well at 80°. Typically, they come from Ireland or Scotland. For American whiskeys, that’s a big, but not impossible hurdle. Sometimes the flavors and aromas seem muted, and the finishes can feel underwhelming. That's happened here.

 

I can understand how 3 Brothers Bourbon would make for a decent pour while hanging out in the woods at night. It is unoffensive and drinks several points below its stated proof. Yet, 3 Brothers Bourbon is also quite forgettable. MGP’s 36% rye Bourbon mash is classic and respected. However, its character was washed out by proofing it too low. Tack on the nearly $50.00 asking price, and nothing is enticing me to recommend it. I hate issuing this rating, but Bust is all that I can muster. 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.