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Bourbon Review: Southwell 12 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey

We review Southwell 12 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a sourced bourbon with a mysterious past and a dessert-y flavor profile.

OVERALL RATING

7
$70.00
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Tasting Notes

About:

86 Proof. $70/750ml. Mash bill of 84% corn, 8% barley, 8% rye. Aged 12 years.
Appearance:
This bourbon pours an inviting warm orange color with a slightly imperfect clarity. The viscosity and motion of the liquid seem appropriate. Free of particulate and haze.
Nose:
First impressions bring to mind cherries and vanilla beans, with occasional wafts of rich butterscotch which are supplemented by the sharp spike of alcohol in the nose. There is a note of graham cracker as well, creating a bourbon with predominantly dessert-related aroma points. One of the only pieces of text I could find on this whiskey touts the excess of corn in the mash bill, which certainly translates in the smell as a simple source of sweetness. There is also a strange lactic sharpness, most likely an excess of vanilla, but almost yogurt-like on some deeper inhales.
Palate:
Holy butterscotch! Once this bourbon hits the tongue, the smells start to make sense. The first impression is of melted vanilla ice cream, both because of those flavor elements of vanilla and dairy, and that linger which is backed up by a viscosity and sweetness. It is one of the more easy-sipping bourbons I’ve encountered at the price range, mostly because it lacks the complexity found in liquid more balanced by astringency or wood. I am able to pick up some darker flavors as my palate acclimates. That black cherry makes an appearance, as do a touch of mustiness and a small element of high-heat, banana-like esters. It tastes good, but in the same way that milkshakes and soda taste good. It’s a dessert.
Finish:
Comments:
While nothing about this bourbon will keep me coming back, it is perfectly acceptable as a mixer and has some really clean, admirable points. It simply lacks repeat or prolonged drinkability, mostly because of the sweetness and lack of balance with non-dessert flavors. rnrnIt’s also a spendy one, and will probably not be the choice of savvy whiskey buyers in markets where more exciting and $10-$20 cheaper 12-years are available. rn

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.

Jim Bonomo

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