Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
Bridgeport, TX whiskey producer Oak & Eden is refreshingly upfront about the fact that they use sourced whiskey. Many emerging distilleries, or distributors focused on the finishing process, will bend over backwards not to put the letters M,G,P in sequence. Oak & Eden, however, is willing to lean on the fact that they do not distill their own product, but instead put the distinguishing touches on sourced whiskey using a patented variation of stave finishing.
They place wood staves (spiral cut pieces of aromatic, flavor-imparting wood) in their bottles before releasing them. This is distinct from the aging process, as Oak & Eden explains: “Unlike a barrel, which has interaction with its environment (oxygen, barometric pressure, humidity, etc.), allowing the barrel to “breathe” the whiskey in and out of the wood, our spire is submerged in a closed glass container, eliminating any interaction with a breathable environment. After about 6 weeks inside the bottle, the spire becomes fully saturated and has imparted all the characteristics it can express, at which point it has fulfilled its primary purpose.”
This process is not only a unique method for augmenting flavors in the glass, but is even being put to use to give individual consumers the opportunity to influence their own bottle.
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Oak & Eden’s recently released 4 Grain & Maple Bourbon consists of a mash bill of 55% corn, 18% rye, 22% wheat, and 5% malted barley and features the contribution of a maple syrup-soaked spire of American oak in the bottle.
Tasting Notes: Oak & Eden 4 Grain & Maple Bourbon
Vital Stats: has no age statement, but their website indicates their whiskey is aged a minimum of 3 years. bottled at 90 proof. a suggested retail price of $59.99.
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Appearance: Light caramel color, light in the glass.
Nose: Sweet maple aroma with a strongly tannic backbone.
Palate: To nobody’s surprise, there’s a dominant maple note, but not in a gimmicky or cloying kind of way so much as with that real syrup flavor that I can’t ever find a proper word for except ‘green’. The maple flavor folds in well with backing vanilla and tannic flavors with mild cinnamon/baking spice on the finish.
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