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Bourbon

Whiskey Review Round Up: Treaty Oak Whiskeys

$49.99

OVERALL
RATING

7.5

Whiskey Review Round Up: Treaty Oak Whiskeys

Tasting Notes:

About:
This whiskey clocks in at 95 proof, and is made from 57% Yellow #1 corn, 32% Texas soft white winter wheat, and 11% barley. It’s aged for two years “under the hot Texas sun” in char three American Oak Barrels. Distributed to Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia, found in 750mL bottles for $49.99. This whiskey is 100 proof, made from 39% corn, 53% rye, 8% barley and aged 10 years. Distributed to Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia, found in 750mL bottles for $64.99. Our last whiskey is 95 proof, made from 78% corn, 12% rye, and 10% barley, then aged 2 years. Distributed to Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia, buy it in 750mL bottles for $39.99.
Appearance:
The juice is very clear, a deep marigold that forms very slow, fat, straight tears. The rye is very clear, medium-gold, like old Chardonnay, and just slightly green. It beads and forms extremely slow tears. Warm tiger pelt red-gold and very clear in the glass, the Red Handed Bourbon forms fast thick tears.
Nose:
The Ghost Hill smells of a gingerbread house on the seashore. I found a hint of cooked flat beans in there, too. The nose is subtle: floral at first, then cherry cola, allspice, ripe banana and cut grass. Cigar box and sandalwood on the nose, with toffee-on-shortbread and white pepper. Banana peel tones come out as it rests in the glass.
Palate:
Quite fiery on the palate, it’s savory and dry – very lean. Minerals dance over the mid-palate, spreading out to cacao nibs, leather and clover honey. The finish is short and clean. Final Thoughts: This is a whiskey for the bone-dry white wine drinker. It’s delicate and straightforward. I want a little more oomph for my neat-drinking pleasure. This is perfect for elegant, subtle cocktails. Score: 3.5/5 Tasting Notes: Treaty Oak Red Handed Rye Whiskey Vital Stats: This whiskey is 100 proof, made from 39% corn, 53% rye, 8% barley and aged 10 years. Distributed to Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia, found in 750mL bottles for $64.99. Appearance: The rye is very clear, medium-gold, like old Chardonnay, and just slightly green. It beads and forms extremely slow tears. Nose: The nose is subtle: floral at first, then cherry cola, allspice, ripe banana and cut grass. Palate: What a contrast on the palate! It’s robust and spicy, with allspice, clove, black pepper, and a whisper of cinnamon. Cedar on the mid-palate, it’s round and creamy on the back-palate. The liquid is weighty; slightly oily on the tongue. Final Thoughts: The rye is working well. Velvety, solid, enjoy this on the back deck or in your favorite spirit-forward cocktail. Score: 4.5/5 Tasting Notes: Treaty Oak Red Handed Bourbon Whiskey Vital Stats: Our last whiskey is 95 proof, made from 78% corn, 12% rye, and 10% barley, then aged 2 years. Distributed to Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia, buy it in 750mL bottles for $39.99. Appearance: Warm tiger pelt red-gold and very clear in the glass, the Red Handed Bourbon forms fast thick tears. Nose: Cigar box and sandalwood on the nose, with toffee-on-shortbread and white pepper. Banana peel tones come out as it rests in the glass. Palate: The palate is lots of blue fruit and a sprinkle of salt. The cookie aromas come up as caramelized sugar and vanilla bean on the mid-palate, with spice – allspice, nutmeg and black pepper coming around on the back of the tongue. Final Thoughts: This whiskey has some nice complexity. It’s not rich for a bourbon, maybe accounting for its youth. I’d love to taste the same in a few years. Score: 3.5/5
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: These whiskeys were provided to us as review samples by Treaty Oak. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of a Treaty Oak whiskey, you were most likely in Texas. Their well-regarded spirits and folksy branding didn’t originally make it out of state on a regular basis, but all that is changing. Thanks to a partnership with Mahalo Spirits Group (MSG) and a sharp rebrand by Crispin Porter+Bogusky, the brand is set to take on a broader foot print, including markets in the American south and midwest. This will include all three whiskeys reviewed here: the Red-Handed Bourbon and Red-handed Rye, and the Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon.

You might recognize MSG from their founding share of Angel’s Envy, which was acquired in 2015 by Bacardi. In addition to Treaty Oak whiskey (and its gin line, Waterloo), the group is growing Papa’s Pilar Rum and Suerte Tequila. These brands have the flashy imagery and precise story craft to make any marketing professor proud.

How much this transition is affecting things on the ground is hard to say. Treaty Oak started as a small operation: “an eclectic and brilliant team of rebels” interested in making spirits that were quality, while offering something different to the connoisseur. 

The experiment started in 2006, with CEO David Barnes, and he appears to remain at the helm. In a prepared statement, Barnes said “Mahalo was the best strategic and cultural fit for both our team and brands. Beyond their industry expertise and first-rate resources, we instantly felt a genuine connection and a shared purpose.”

I’m one to root for the small brands with a commitment to exploration. I’m automatically suspicious of dollars coming in and ruining something beautiful. It’s my hope for Treaty Oak that they benefit from this relationship, continue pushing boundaries, and still make spirits we get excited about.

With that, let me get down off my soapbox and see how this initial bottling went.

The whiskeys from Treaty Oak (image via Cindy Capparelli/The Whiskey Wash)

Tasting Notes: Treaty Oak Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon Whiskey

Vital Stats: This whiskey clocks in at 95 proof, and is made from 57% Yellow #1 corn, 32% Texas soft white winter wheat, and 11% barley. It’s aged for two years “under the hot Texas sun” in char three American Oak Barrels. Distributed to Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia, found in 750mL bottles for $49.99.

Appearance: The juice is very clear, a deep marigold that forms very slow, fat, straight tears.

Nose: The Ghost Hill smells of a gingerbread house on the seashore. I found a hint of cooked flat beans in there, too.

Palate: Quite fiery on the palate, it’s savory and dry – very lean. Minerals dance over the mid-palate, spreading out to cacao nibs, leather and clover honey. The finish is short and clean.

Final Thoughts: This is a whiskey for the bone-dry white wine drinker. It’s delicate and straightforward. I want a little more oomph for my neat-drinking pleasure. This is perfect for elegant, subtle cocktails.

Score: 3.5/5

Tasting Notes: Treaty Oak Red Handed Rye Whiskey

Vital Stats: This whiskey is 100 proof, made from 39% corn, 53% rye, 8% barley and aged 10 years. Distributed to Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia, found in 750mL bottles for $64.99.

Appearance: The rye is very clear, medium-gold, like old Chardonnay, and just slightly green. It beads and forms extremely slow tears.

Nose: The nose is subtle: floral at first, then cherry cola, allspice, ripe banana and cut grass.

Palate: What a contrast on the palate! It’s robust and spicy, with allspice, clove, black pepper, and a whisper of cinnamon. Cedar on the mid-palate, it’s round and creamy on the back-palate. The liquid is weighty; slightly oily on the tongue.

Final Thoughts: The rye is working well. Velvety, solid, enjoy this on the back deck or in your favorite spirit-forward cocktail.

Score: 4.5/5

Tasting Notes: Treaty Oak Red Handed Bourbon Whiskey

Vital Stats: Our last whiskey is 95 proof, made from 78% corn, 12% rye, and 10% barley, then aged 2 years. Distributed to Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia, buy it in 750mL bottles for $39.99.

Appearance: Warm tiger pelt red-gold and very clear in the glass, the Red Handed Bourbon forms fast thick tears.

Nose: Cigar box and sandalwood on the nose, with toffee-on-shortbread and white pepper. Banana peel tones come out as it rests in the glass.

Palate: The palate is lots of blue fruit and a sprinkle of salt. The cookie aromas come up as caramelized sugar and vanilla bean on the mid-palate, with spice – allspice, nutmeg and black pepper coming around on the back of the tongue.

Final Thoughts: This whiskey has some nice complexity. It’s not rich for a bourbon, maybe accounting for its youth. I’d love to taste the same in a few years.

Score: 3.5/5

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