According to the whiskey’s own website, Ownby was one of the original settlers of Tennessee, who helped beat back the British in the Battle of Kings Mountain and fought in the Revolutionary War as an Overmountain Man. He enlisted at age 17, served six tours of duty and settled in the area surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains.
(My materials also included a recipe for an “Ole Fashioned” and a “TN Gold Rush,” both of which I approve of, but you can look up old fashioned and gold rush recipes and find the same thing.)
Tasting Notes: James Ownby Reserve Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Vital stats: Charcoal-filtered, aged in new American oak, 94 proof, about $40. Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Appearance: Kind of a flat brown, to be honest. It’s got the dullness of a cardboard box tied up for recycling. Also, a slight green tinge.
Nose: Are we ready for fall yet? I think we might be. The early mornings hold a slight chill. And this whiskey brings some of those scents. Granny Smith apples. Fresh tobacco, like smelling an unlit cigarette. Raisins.
Palate: Despite the earnest storytelling and chuckle-worthy recipes that accompanied this whiskey, I find myself really enjoying it. There’s definitely spice and a little fire initially, but it finishes mellow. It tastes richer than I was expecting. This is more refined than I expected. Color me pleasantly surprised. It holds back, which I appreciate. It doesn’t share everything at first. It warms quickly, like you want on a fall evening. Did I mention I’m ready for fall? Well, I am. And I want a big glass of this whiskey alongside me as I welcome it in. For about $40, the price is right, too. I wouldn’t pay that much more but I also think it’s worth north of $40 by at least a little…?
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