Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a free sample to review by the party behind it. The Whiskey Wash, while appreciative of this, did keep full independent editorial control over this article.
Contrary to popular belief, bigger doesn’t always mean better in Texas. That’s the thinking, anyway, of small-batch whiskey distiller Yellow Rose out of Houston, Texas. Open to the public on September 20th, 2014, and touting itself as the first legal whiskey distillery in the city of Houston since Prohibition, Yellow Rose currently offers a line up of three whiskeys for your drinking pleasure. We’ve had the chance to try all of them, and will be posting our thoughts on a couple in the coming days.
For this first review, I recently had their Yellow Rose Blended Whiskey. Said by the distillery to have “fuller flavor than typical Canadian blends due to a higher bourbon content,” it is pot distilled and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof), with no neutral spirits involved. In a landscape where many blended whiskeys add in neutral spirits, it’s refreshing to find one that doesn’t.
From Yellow Rose Distillery on their Blended Whiskey:
Yellow Rose Blended Whiskey is a fusion of character just like Texas culture. A perfect blend of southern charm and rustic cowboy ensures a smooth drinking whiskey with plenty of heart. Our blended whiskey is fuller flavor than typical Canadian blends due to a higher bourbon content.
Yellow Rose Blended Whiskey has a suggested retail price of $29.99 for a 750ml bottle. It is partially distilled onsite and partially distilled by partner distilleries.
Tasting Notes:
Color: Warm amber, very clear.
Nose: Sweet butterscotch with summer fruit – apple pie with hints of cinnamon, allspice, brown sugar.
Palate: Very sweet and a bit tangy. Bright cherries and a bit of banana at the end. Very little oak or bite, extremely smooth.
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Conclusion:
This is a rating based off value, to be sure, but also because it is surprisingly pleasant to just sip – a perfect aperitif that is a real crowd-pleaser.
Even your grandma who’s cautious of a glass of whiskey will find something to like. And if mixing it is your thing, it’s not overbearing in a simple whiskey coke. If you really want to experiment, Yellow Rose Blended Whiskey would be fabulous over ice cream or used in baking.
FINAL SCORE: 88/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF YELLOW ROSE BLENDED WHISKEY]
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