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.
There is something in the water in Texas. I’ve been calling what’s occurring in the Lone Star State a “Renaissance,” but it honestly might be an evolution. The creativity and productivity coming from Texas have been nothing short of extraordinary. If you haven’t started trying to get your hands on Texas whiskey, you probably should.
Oak & Eden from Bridgeport, Texas, is trying to stand out and be the next big thing. “Oak & Eden is built on the foundation of innovation, believing whiskey should be constantly fresh and distinct, never the same. Where tradition meets innovation,” the brand says on its website.
As with many new distilleries, Oak and Eden is using outside sourced whiskey, primarily Midwest Grain Products (MGP). They tell you this on their website’s FAQs page. How Oak & Eden are changing their spirit is possibly what distinguishes them from the pack. They are using “In-Bottle Finishing™” to add a new depth of flavor to their whiskey
Finishing staves are nothing new to the whiskey consumer. In fact, many of you reading have probably received these as a gag-gift more than once during the holidays. I know of some people who have genuinely used these staves to great effect, usually helping take a bottom shelf whiskey and creating an excellent cocktail mixer.
The bourbon here is a wheat bourbon with a 51% corn, 45% wheat and 4% malted barley mash bill, aged in new American Oak barrels. The 5” American oak spire is medium toasted and infused with American honey before being placed in the bottle for an extra sweet finish.
Oak & Eden Co-Founder and CMO Brad Neathery claims “[Wheat & Honey] reflect our pursuit in customizing the experience of whiskey in unique ways – not just with the products we create, but also with how they are designed to be used. We intentionally crafted Wheat & Honey to pair beautifully with a broad range of refreshing cocktails – cocktails that most people would never assume are whiskey based.” Oak & Eden plan to debut additional expressions to their Infused Series over the next year as well as build upon its unique Bottle Builder program where customers can craft their own whiskey bottle using one of the maker’s four finished whiskey bases and over thirty infusion options.
Oak & Eden may also be onto something by finishing directly in the bottle, putting the time of transport to work. However, it’s always risky when your whiskey is “best” only after being mixed in a cocktail. On balance flavored or finished whiskies are becoming increasingly popular. There is market for the “premium” finished cocktail whiskey. If you don’t believe me, look-up how popular Crown Royal Peach was when it was first introduced. With that, we turn to the glass.
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Tasting Notes: Oak & Eden Wheat & Honey Whiskey
Vital Stats: $59.99 MSRP. 45 proof or 90% ABV.
Appearance: Light gold with quick legs.
Nose: The nose is very light, easy to smell in the glass without burning the nose. I found light hints of honey, a coolness of stilled water, and a small hint of yeast or bread. With successive smells I found maraschino cherries, melon fruit, and some more light honey. Overall, the nose was extremely light, but not all together unpleasant.
Taste: My first sip, I almost couldn’t taste anything. For my second sip, I really swirled it around in my mouth to coat my palate. I found oak tannins with a touch of oak char. When I brought air back into my mouth to help detect the lighter notes, I found clove, soft florals, and honey. There was a whisp of some chemically pine sol flavor, but I only found that note once. The finish felt to end almost before it began. With a watery mouthfeel, I wasn’t expecting this to linger much at all. You rebound from the whiskey very quickly, without much lingering on the tongue.
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