The whiskey wash logo
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website

Trending Stories

Search
Bourbon

Bourbon Review: Iron Fish Distillery Bourbon Finished In Maple Syrup Barrels

We review Iron Fish Distillery's Bourbon Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels. How will the syrup hold up against the whiskey?

OVERALL RATING

10
$54
Like Conversation

Tasting Notes

About:

Sourced bourbon finished in maple syrup barrels acquired from nearby Griner Family Sugar Bush. Bottled at 43% ABV in 750mL bottles.
Appearance:
Relatively typical-looking amber color in the glass, just a tad toward the browner side of whiskey.
Nose:
As one might expect, the basis of this bouquet is the sweet, rich aroma of maple syrup. However, that sweetness doesn’t dominate the nose, as it’s tempered by strong notes of oak and cinnamon – adding a spicy and earthy dimension – with a touch of tangerine adding a bit of tartness.
Palate:
The first sip is rich, sweet, and fruity, reminiscent for me of caramel spread onto a red apple. Gradually, cinnamon and nutmeg work their way into the flavor and building into a moderately harsh roar on the tongue, while simultaneously shifting the sweet side of things closer to maple syrup or molasses.
Finish:
Swallowing sends a blast of cinnamon toward the top of the mouth while tingles slowly make their way of the sides. That gives way to a rich, sweet, and smoky molasses flavor that coats the tongue, with slight tingle throughout the mouth.
Comments:
While this isn’t the whiskey that Iron Fish Distillery plans to make for its eventual mainstays – and therefore it seems a little premature to judge – I find the taste in the whiskey that they have put to market is exquisite. This whiskey has an excellent blend and balance of flavors and remarkable symmetry between the nose and the palate. I was particularly nervous about mixing maple syrup with whiskey, but the result was especially impressive. I can’t wait to taste what Iron Fish does with their own whiskey.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Aaron Knapp

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash

The whiskey wash logo