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Bourbon Review: Doc Swinson’s Session Blend Straight Bourbon

We review Doc Swinson’s Session Blend Straight Bourbon, a mix of two mash bills from MGP that are a blend of corn, rye, and malted barley, with both very heavy on the corn.

OVERALL RATING

7
$39.99
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Doc Swinson’s Session Blend Straight Bourbon review

Tasting Notes

About:

Aged for a minimum of five years in American White Oak Char #4 with Char #2 heads, 45% ABV, mash bill: No. 1: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley & No. 2: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley, SRP $39.99/ 750ml bottle.
Appearance:
This is amber in color with a faint green undertone.
Nose:
The aromas lean towards fruit and spice with a whiff of cider vinegar. I smell notes of candied red apples, sour cherries, and dried lime zest for fruit. The spice note reminds me of clove gum. There’s a touch of soapiness and the nose is faintly sour. It’s an odd mix of aromatics that doesn’t seem cohesive.
Palate:
On the palate, this whiskey is a touch muted. Textural-wise, it has an oily, moderate body with a prickly feel from the alcohol. The aromatics are subtle, and remind me of old gum. It’s mild and mellow with a note of charcoal and burnt marshmallow that makes me think of Tennessee whiskey. The short finish leaves a suggestion of sugar cookies. On its own, it’s a bit boring. A dash of water livens up the flavors, bringing out sandalwood, dried autumn leaves, and black tea served with a side of buttery caramel. This is very smooth and would make an excellent mixer. It lacks for complexity but, as a charming, inoffensive whiskey, this works great as a mixer or even on its own.
Finish:
Comments:
I found myself reaching for this a few nights in a row. It’s not a rich and viscous as other whiskeys distilled by MGP and released at a similar price point. Doc Swinson’s has a house style for picking barrels: more moderate in body and refined aromatically. It’s a great combination even at the entry level and shows that even at the lower end, the four gents behind Doc Swinson’s know what they’re doing. Just, when it comes to the Doc Swinson’s Session Blend Straight Bourbon, always swim with a buddy.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Suzanne Bayard

Suzanne Bayard struck out to the West Coast with her now husband almost a decade ago to explore the intersection of wine and policy in its world-class wine regions. She manages a Portland, OR bottle shop by day as the wine buyer and newsletter editor. She is also the Director of the Deep Roots Coalition, an organization of 30 Willamette Valley wineries that educate on and promote dry farming and sustainable practices. She joined the Whiskey Wash to explore two other passions: writing and whiskey.

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