Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Oak & Eden. 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 towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
Beverage companies endorsing or collaborating with artists of all sorts to promote projects has become a strong trend over the past few years. From Archenemy to Game of Thrones, distilleries and entertainment companies are finding interesting ways to market products in a mutually beneficial way as they build a more immersive entertainment and drinking experience. So how much is gimmick and how much is taste?
Oak & Eden has a signature whiskey out in their Anthro Series. It is inspired by actor, stunt man, and real-life cowboy Forrie J. Smith. To create this whiskey, Oak & Eden started with their sourced barrel strength bourbon and aged it in the bottle with a cold brew coffee-infused American Oak Spire. This process allows them to reduce the length of the standard aging process by not barrel aging, but allowing the spire’s natural wood and coffee notes to influence the flavor and color in an abbreviated time frame.
This process has its advantages since the distiller does not have to wait for the results of more traditional barrel aging to take place. The disadvantages, in my opinion, are that the rough edges of a young whiskey do not have the chance to smooth out as they would over months and years in a traditional barrel.
Tasting Notes: Oak & Eden Finished Whiskey, Anthro Series, Forrie J. Smith
Vital Stats: 114 Proof, cold brew coffee infused American oak Spire, $84 a bottle.
Appearance: Dark amber or light maple syrup, with legs on the side of the glass as you swirl.
Nose: A prominent note of ripe red apple comes to the front. It is followed by a sweet buttery note that is overtaken by Caramel Macchiato. This is accompanied by a hint of iced Christmas spice cookie.
Palate: My first tastes were quite sweet and a bit medicinal. It reminded me of Cherry Luden’s cough drop laced with white pepper for a bit of spiciness. There is a bit of citrus flavor, much like a mandarin orange. I also detected some Maraschino cherry. The spice notes hit with the bitterness of nutmeg and a hint of cardamon. At 114 proof it comes off as a bit punchy. When I added an ice cube, the spice remained but so did the medicinal notes. There was very little coffee essence in my sips.
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