Oxford Heritage Corn Whisky

Oxford Heritage Corn Whisky

Official bottling
Single corn - Oxfordshire
Chinese tea
50.44% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, corn syrup, toffee, butterscotch, strawberries, honey, hints of cloves. With water, sandalwood, brown paper, honey, popcorn. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, airy, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Toffee, butterscotch, popcorn, brown paper, honey, cinnamon. With water, sandalwood, brown paper, photocopy paper. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, toffee, butterscotch, popcorn. 

Comments: 

Sweet and buttery, lots of sugar from the corn. Water opens it up, revealing a spicy freshness that, if this were malt, would be the feinty bits.

Verdict:

I like this.

Platte Valley 3yo 100% Straight Corn Whiskey

Platte Valley 3yo 100% Straight Corn Whiskey

Official bottling
Single corn - Missouri
White wine 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, bubble gum, strawberry jam, pencil lead, vanilla, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Pencil lead, wet stones, white grapes, lemon juice, fresh cut grass, photocopy paper, hints of cornbread. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon juice, pencil lead, fresh cut grass, cornbread, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Flinty yet sweet corn whiskey. It’s surprisingly feinty as well, but it’s definitely corn spirit. Interesting dram, corn spirit has a character all of its own.

Verdict:

I like this.

Abasolo Corn Whiskey

Abasolo Corn Whiskey 

Official bottling 
Single corn - Edomex
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, popcorn, butter, vanilla, honey, golden syrup, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Raisins, red grapes, honey, purple corn, pineapples, golden syrup, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Short. Sea salt, butter, vanilla, cloves. 

Comments: 

This is a different style from Sierra Norte. It’s richer somehow, lots of leather and pineappley tropical notes. Lots of spices and butter, especially on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Sierra Norte Black Corn

Sierra Norte Black Corn 

Official bottling 
Single corn - Oaxaca
Dark gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, popcorn, fresh cut grass, milk chocolate, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Butter, popcorn, milk chocolate, sea salt, nutmeg, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Short. Butter, nutmeg, cinnamon, milk chocolate, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

I think this is my favourite out of the mini Sierra Norte tasting session I put together. It’s buttery and warm, sort of a buttered popcorn hug, like the best bourbons. Yet it’s unlike bourbon, it’s loose in the mouth, almost airy, and it’s got a nice spicy hit.

Verdict:

I like this.

Sierra Norte Yellow Corn

Sierra Norte Yellow Corn 

Official bottling 
Single corn - Oaxaca
Dark gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cotton candy, honey, fresh cut grass, vanilla, sea salt, raspberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Raspberries, fresh cut grass, honey, green tea, sea salt, hints of corn syrup. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, raspberries, honey, hints of cotton candy. 

Comments: 

This whisky shares a characteristic herbal flavour with its siblings. It’s got some sweet berry notes, but it’s mostly honey, cotton candy and grass. It’s complex and subtle, and quite refreshing.

Verdict:

I like this.

Sierra Norte White Corn

Sierra Norte White Corn 

Official bottling 
Single corn - Oaxaca
Dark green gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, yoghurt, agave, honey, sea salt, oranges. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, red grapes, raisins, strawberries, black tea, orange juice, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, raisins, orange juice, agave. 

Comments: 

It’s the first Mexican whisky I’ve ever had. Grassy and sweet, it’s got a loose, light texture, with a hint of spices, especially on the finish. Quite alluring. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Roughstock Montana Sweet Corn Spirit

Roughstock Montana Sweet Corn Spirit

Official bottling
Single corn - Montana
Colourless
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, sweet corn, grilled meat, buttermilk. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, astringent, slightly fizzy. 
Tasting: Sour. Sweet corn, sour cream, buttermilk, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Buttermilk, sour cream, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

Oof. Corn white dog. This is obviously not that complex, it's still redolent of sweet corn. But there's good stuff beneath that - sour cream, some buttermilk, even savoury grilled meat (bacon?) notes on the nose. This needs some aging!

Verdict:

Not bad.

Balcones Brimstone

Balcones Brimstone

Official bottling
Single corn - Texas
Dark amber
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, smoke, maple syrup, black tea, blueberries, vanilla, hints of turmeric.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, airy, watery around the edges.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Brown paper, maple syrup, sweet potatoes, vanilla, magic marker, hints of turmeric.
Finish: Long. Sweet potatoes, vanilla, magic marker, pears.

Comments:

Interestingly made - the whiskey has been smoked (not the grain, the whiskey itself) with scrub oak. It's sweet and smoky, with a vegetable hint of something very like sweet potatoes. Good complexity, even spiciness. Very nice, and I hope Balcones keep producing this sort of stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balcones Baby Blue Corn Whisky

Balcones Baby Blue Corn Whisky

Official bottling 
Single corn - Texas
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cardboard, cream, bananas, tobacco leaf, leather, hints of old books.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Tobacco leaf, cream, bananas, leather, pears, hints of chocolate .
Finish: Short. Pears, lemon sweets, leather.

Comments:

My first corn whisky, and I don't really know what to make of it. It starts out leathery and musty, like being in an old library. Underneath that layer, there's a great deal of fruit and sweetness, a bit like a bourbon. Quite good.

Verdict:

I like this.