American

Whiskey Review: Rush Creek Trophy Whiskey

We review Rush Creek Trophy Whiskey, a sourced American whiskey released by a new Illinois distillery.

OVERALL RATING

6
Like Conversation
Rush Creek Trophy Whiskey

Tasting Notes

About:

Aged 9 years; bottled at 80 proof; distilled from grain in Kentucky, finished and bottled in Illinois,
Appearance:
Thin, golden hay
Nose:
Ethanol heat, raw neutral grain spirit, paint thinner, some grassy sweetness akin to stevia or licorice root, vanilla extract as it opens up
Palate:
Corn Nuts, movie theater popcorn butter, sweet caramel, light cinnamon spicing towards the mid-palate. There is a tingling (though not altogether unpleasant) ethanol burn on the swallow, with medium length finish emphasizing candy caramel.
Finish:
Comments:
This whiskey is kind of a mess of movie theater concessions stand offerings. The nose has no real redeeming qualities and the taste, while not as unpleasant, is jumbled and dysfunctional. It comes across as underaged, but there may be no way to redeem this juice. Hopefully as they move toward in house distillation and aging it will allow them to better showcase the natural resources of the Rush Creek area. Until then, I’d take a pass on their whiskeys.

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.

Connor Martin

Connor is a professional chef in Portland, OR, and one half of the dynamic chef/bartender duo behind the acclaimed MIAN pop-ups (@mianpdx on Instagram). He and his business partner are currently working towards opening their own bar. Connor's past experience includes managing cocktail programs and conducting spirits education with a focus on whiskey and amari. A devoted craft beer enthusiast, he is the chef in residence for Brews for New Avenues, where he collaborated with Breakside Brewery in Portland, OR, to create a Gold Medal-winning sour ale.

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash