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.
Long before they began bottling their own whiskeys, Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil had a bourbon themed podcast called Bourbon Pursuit. Through their years of talking to different professionals in the Bourbon industry, hearing what works well, what fails, and the hows and whys of blending different whiskeys, it’s a sure bet the two were able to learn a lot about the business during this time.
In 2018, Coleman and Cecil took the leap to selling their own whiskey. While currently they are what is known as rectifiers, they take this and celebrate it. What I mean by that is they seem to be extremely open about their sourcing, and use their marketing and labeling to announce and celebrate these individual distilleries they are sourcing from.
As a fairly young company, and a rectifier, they have made quite an impression already. In 2022, they won a Best Bourbon of the year Barleycorn award, and a Double Gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition.
Through their Pursuit United brand, they work on creating perfect blends from blending bourbons from distillers in multiple states, seemingly working to show that there are good bourbons made outside of Kentucky. One of their newest additions is the Pursuit United Oak Collection. The first in this is their Pursuit United Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey, half finished in a toasted American Oak barrel, and the other half in a French Oak barrel, then blended back together to make a single profile.
The Pursuit United Oak Collection Blended Straight Bourbon is sourced from three different distillers – MGP from Indiana, Finger Lakes Distillery from New York, and, for some reason, an undisclosed distillery from Tennessee. The mash bills for the three are: MGP with 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley; Finger Lakes Distillery with 70% corn, 20% eye, 10% cherry smoked barley, and the undisclosed distillery with 80% corn, 10% rye, 10% malted barley.
Tasting Notes: Pursuit United Oak Collection Blended Straight Bourbon
Vital Stats: 108 proof (54% ABV). Mash bill mixes: (80% corn, 10% rye, 10% malted barley), (70% corn, 20% rye, 10% cherry smoked barley), and (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley). Finished in Toasted American Oak barrels and French Oak Barrels. 750ml bottle. MSRP $74.99
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Appearance: This bourbon is a light amber color.
Nose: While there is perhaps a touch of orange peel, there is definitely a very strong hint of chocolate cherries.
Palate: This particular bourbon seems very smooth on the tongue, just rolling over it. There is definitely an interesting and unique hit of sweetness, perhaps a bit of that chocolate and cherry nose. It definitely finishes with the taste of oak and cloves.
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