Bourbon

Bourbon Review: Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon Whiskey

We review Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon Whiskey, one of the latest expressions created and sold by MGP.

OVERALL RATING

6
Like Conversation
MGP Eight & Sand Bourbon

Tasting Notes

About:

A blend of bourbon and whiskey aged over 4 years; 88 proof; about $30.
Appearance:
Reddish gold, like the sun streaming in during a fiery summer sunset during which you have to do a double-take to ensure it’s not your walls that are on fire.
Nose:
Nilla wafers, and manila paper. Also, this has got a strong strawberry scent: both strawberry Quik and regular strawberries. But the kind of strawberries that are a little white in the middle. Or like strawberry-scented air freshener.
Palate:
This…isn’t terrible. But it’s not great, either. It’s pretty generic. It doesn’t have a good, desserty quality of a nice whiskey. It definitely tastes like you’re drinking alcohol. It tastes high-proof, when it isn’t.
Finish:
Comments:
This whiskey is fine, I guess. I do like a lot of what MGP puts out under other brands, but I’m not sold on this one. It is a $30 whiskey that tastes like a $20-30 whiskey. And that’s fine? Sometimes? But I’m getting a little old for spending time with whiskey (or anything, really) that doesn’t ring my bell. So, yeah. I’m not going to dream of a pour of this after a tough day. But not all whiskies are amazing, and I’m supportive of supporting history. So there’s that.

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.

Carin Moonin

Carin Moonin swapped a 5th-floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ, for a house in SE Portland a decade ago and hasn't looked back. She appreciates Portland's vibrant whiskey scene, finding it complements both the weather and her mood. Carin enjoys exploring the diverse world of brown liquor and its many facets. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and others. When she's not indulging in whiskey or writing about it, you can find Carin running, reading, or on the hunt for free samples in grocery stores.

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash

Whiskey JYPSI Explorer Bourbon Review

Can a celebrity whiskey actually stand out in a crowded market? We taste JYPSI Explorer, Eric Church’s bourbon blend, to see if it earns its place.