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Bourbon

Pursuit United

$65.00

OVERALL
RATING

9

Whiskey Review: Pursuit United

Tasting Notes:

About:
A blend of straight bourbon whiskeys ages 4-5 years old from Kentucky, New York, and Tennessee; 108 proof; about $65.
Appearance:
More yellowish cold than red or copper-toned. Like a light tan. Newish oak plank flooring.
Nose:
I want to say rich caramel, and maybe there’s a little of that. But I also get some lemongrass, a little bit herbal. Like one of those natural cleaners? The ones that you think are cleaning but really aren’t cleaning but they smell kind of good so you don’t have to burn a candle after you clean? Nothing too astringent but a soft mellowness. Subsequent whiffs did bring more common bourbon smells to mind, such as brown sugar and Nilla wafers.
Palate:
Sweet and rich. Not overwhelming. Juicy and robust. Smooth as heck! It tastes like how a bourbon should. A marshmallow, toasted perfectly, not burned. Sugar cookies, hot out the oven. Cream soda but not too sweet. This is a sipper. You want to take your time and enjoy it but there is also no pretense here. I drank it neat, but maybe an ice cube wouldn’t hurt—but don’t wait too long, you don’t want to distill the richness very much.
Finish:
Comments:
Really well done. I’m very impressed. Not surprised, though. I’m glad this will stick around, and I believe it will. But–and, sorry–it’s still not going to get me to listen to a podcast (my second-most loathed form of media, right after TED Talks).

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Pursuit Spirits. This in no way, per our editorial policiesinfluenced 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.

At the end of January, we wrote about Pursuit Spirits launching a new and limited-batch blend of straight whiskies, Pursuit United. Pursuit was formed in 2018 by the folks from the respected and thorough Bourbon Pursuit blog. Their popularity confirms the knowledge: You don’t get to be the #1 whiskey podcast without knowing your stuff.

And they’ve put that knowledge into their new offering, Pursuit United. Unlike Pursuit’s other whiskies, such as their rate single-barrel Pursuit Series where, once they’re gone, they’re gone forever (not unlike a lot of Barrell Craft Spirits whiskeys, actually), Pursuit United is here for the duration.

As we previously reported, Pursuit United is a non-chill filtered blend of blended straight bourbon whiskies. It was created using mash bills from three separate distilleries: Kentucky’s Bardstown Bourbon Company, New York’s Finger Lakes Distilling, and an unnamed Tennessee distillery that, they promise, isn’t “located in Tullahoma.” (In other words, it’s not Dickel.)

When it first came out, it was limited to about 2,000 bottles available online through retailers in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas, but 8,000+ bottles are now hitting the market for those with a little bit of patience. It’s not a bank-breaker whiskey, but it’s not super-cheap, either: A bottle will run you about $65. Is it worth it? Let’s find out.

Pursuit United
Pursuit United (image via Pursuit Spirits)

Tasting notes: Pursuit United Blended Straight Bourbon

Vital Stats: A blend of straight bourbon whiskeys ages 4-5 years old from Kentucky, New York, and Tennessee; 108 proof; about $65.

Appearance: More yellowish cold than red or copper-toned. Like a light tan. Newish oak plank flooring.

Nose: I want to say rich caramel, and maybe there’s a little of that. But I also get some lemongrass, a little bit herbal. Like one of those natural cleaners? The ones that you think are cleaning but really aren’t cleaning but they smell kind of good so you don’t have to burn a candle after you clean? Nothing too astringent but a soft mellowness. Subsequent whiffs did bring more common bourbon smells to mind, such as brown sugar and Nilla wafers.

Palate: Sweet and rich. Not overwhelming. Juicy and robust. Smooth as heck! It tastes like how a bourbon should. A marshmallow, toasted perfectly, not burned. Sugar cookies, hot out the oven. Cream soda but not too sweet. This is a sipper. You want to take your time and enjoy it but there is also no pretense here. I drank it neat, but maybe an ice cube wouldn’t hurt—but don’t wait too long, you don’t want to distill the richness very much.

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