As any reader of this site could tell you, bourbon doesn’t have to come from Kentucky. But it does have to be made in America, composed of at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, distilled at no more than 160 proof (80% alcohol), barreled for aging at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol), and free of any flavorings or color additives.
W.H. Harrison Indiana Bourbon is named for William Henry Harrison, the Governor of the Indiana Territory and former U.S. President, and calls itself “the first modern-day Indiana bourbon” (though this is debated elsewhere). In addition to the straight bourbon, W.H. Harrison Bourbon puts out a high-rye Governor’s Reserve bourbon and a Presidential Reserve bourbon, made from barrels aged 16 years or longer.
Harrison’s website hard-sells the desirability of Indiana’s corn, oak, and limestone, all of which go toward their claim of a well-balanced and pure beverage. That said, they’re cagey about where its product is distilled: The bottle reads, “Distilled and barrel-aged in Indiana, bottled by W.H. Harrison Bourbon Co., Temperance, MI.”
So… another Midwestern Grain Products (MGP) production, then? Survey says, yes! As I’ve mentioned before, this is fine: Just own it, ok? It’s fine, really. As Seinfeld would say, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Very light; a pale straw.
Nose: First a waxy sweetness, reminiscent of Play-Doh, followed by dried apricots, new-mown hay, and a touch of turpentine.
Palate: Grassy vs. corny—but young. Fresh and smooth, but it feels immature. How long has this been aged? Their website offers no information, and online searching provided a nebulous “under four years.” I’d venture that it’s well inside of that.
Finish: Like “bourbon light.” Light and airy, with a lingering slight cinnamon. There’s almost no bite to it. At 80 proof, it’s quite smooth.
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Conclusion:
The smoothness of W.H. Harrison makes it a pleasant bourbon that I’d have no problem using in an Old Fashioned. If you want it on its own, make it neat: Adding ice would dissolve the taste completely. (Then again, if you’re introducing someone to bourbon, it might not be a bad entrée.)
It’s somewhat expensive for a gateway bourbon at about $34, when there are others that would serve the same purpose for a chunk cheaper.
FINAL SCORE: 78/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF W.H. HARRISON INDIANA BOURBON]
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