Leopold Bros 8yo
Kentucky Straight Bourbon | 54.6% ABV
Score: 7/10
Very Good Indeed.
TL;DR
A rye-spiced, blood-orange-soaked trip to Colorado
Sharing and Caring
The Leopold Brothers are an impressive pair. Truth to be told, I’ve had Leopold whiskey before, but never properly sat down with it to really think about what I am drinking.
That’s part of this journey, isn’t it? The time part. For those of you with a little time under your belt, discovering the wide world of whisk(e)y, there are several ‘ways’ in which we drink. Convivially, say at a pub or with friends. Festivals, when many drams can blend into a blur (although some will always stand out); and although not a finite list, there are times when we give the spirit our full attention, say at a tasting, tour or at home with time on our hands.
Well, after an incredible weekend at the end of March, where time whizzed and whirred past me at a dizzying speed, I finally have a moment to contemplate this gifted bottle. Several within the whiskey community attending the Independent Spirits Festival in Leith offered to mule a bottle across the pond for me – something I am always grateful for. Just as there is an inordinate amount of great Scotch that never gets across the Atlantic, there is an equal amount of amazing American whiskey that never makes it past Ellis Island. Without this whiskey community caring and sharing, our exposure to whiskey would be poorer for it.
I’ve never met Todd and Scott Leopold, who own and run the company behind today’s liquid, but I’ve had a search on their website and it makes me hope that will change in the future. Not just because their background is so impressive, but because they are unafraid to experiment and to look to the past - for guidance and out of intrigue. I’m fairly sure we would be conversing on mash bills and flavour in the blink of an eye.
And frankly, I have Arun Rao to thank for this. Another distillery to explore, new flavours to experience and two whisky folk I’ve added to my list of people I’d like to meet. Cool huh? All that from someone kindly bringing me a bottle of whiskey that they can obtain, and I can’t.
What an incredible community this is. Each and every one is an unpaid Brand Ambassador in their own way. Sure, we’re not always singing from the official hymnal, but then that is part of the charm and appeal.
This is the same at whisky festivals – word gets around quickly when there are a few treasures to be tasted. Not in a showy ‘look what I’ve got’ kind of way. No, we’re back to that sharing-and-caring motif. I have a few more of these US-only bottlings for future Dramface pieces – apologies to those who cannot access them. Dramface is here, after all, to discover and uncover every nook and cranny of the whisky world and bring it to the fore for others to discover and discuss.
So, again with thanks to Arun, let’s dive into this 8-year-old Leopold Bros whiskey.
Review
Leopold Bros 8yo, Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey, “Distiller Barrels Select”, Mash Bill: 65% corn, 15% rye, with 20% Leopold Bros Floor Malt, 54.6% ABV
£n/a gifted
Score: 7/10
Very Good Indeed.
TL;DR
A rye-spiced, blood-orange-soaked trip to Colorado
Nose
I’ve let this glass breathe a little while I typed the above and, with air, a soft Parma-violet/Lavender note comes through. It’s more sherbet than soap, so don’t be too alarmed - those of you who boke at the mere thought of Parma-violets.
Bitter or blood orange (hints of Negroni) with a deep or heavy citrus (not a fresh citrus twist, more a dried peel zest). The corn, despite the mash bill, is not overly dominant, and I can detect the rye spiciness, even the dryness from the floor malt. Digging deeper; hints of marzipan (I realise that ‘vanilla’ is such an obvious note in so many American whiskies); also a custard-creaminess (crème anglaise for those who prefer it described this way). Enough, have a sip, you word-salad ponce.
Palate
It is immediately sweet (well, it is cask strength) and quite prickly with the alcohol on the tongue. But there is an immense amount going on underneath the tongue-tingling from the alcohol and sweetness. With a dash of water, the whiskey calms remarkably, and back come those blood-orange flavours, with sweet corn, vanilla, and again the rye spiciness in the background.
The Dregs
I am absolutely loving this whiskey. It won’t be what everyone will reach for – I understand that for many. The initial sweetness of many American whiskies can be off-putting (perhaps this is explaining the current trend for ex-Bourbon matured Scotch at the moment?), but I would ask you all to persevere with it.
The nose is a delight (and I could have gone on), and I’m torn between the weightier palate with the additional alcohol or the fruitier style with a dash of water. I perhaps just need to experiment with a few drops and find the perfect mix. This whiskey reminds me of my days living in and travelling to the US, where each state (almost) would offer a new distillery and drinking experience. I miss that, but that dismay is alleviated by my great pals, you; the whiskey mules.
I hope to see you in Leith next year!
Score: 7/10
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. FF
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