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Whiskey Review: Silverbelly Whiskey

We review Silverbelly Whiskey, a celebrity whiskey brand tied to singer Alan Jackson.

OVERALL RATING

3
$40.00
  • Carin Moonin is a Portland-based whiskey enthusiast and writer.
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Silverbelly Whiskey review

Tasting Notes

About:

No mash bill available, but at least 51% corn; aged a minimum of two years in new oak; 91 proof; about $40.
Appearance:
In the bottle: extremely pale gold. In the glass: barely there. It reminded me of the manilla paper they used to give us in second grade to draw on and which received the misnomer of “vanilla paper.” Also, my glass had flecks of cork after pouring. It happens, I suppose, but I fear this will not “set us up for success” as my fave Peloton instructor likes to say.
Nose:
As with the color: barely there. I poured more in the glass to see if that would procure a scent. It did not. I sniffed deeper. I have not ever been close to paper pulp, but I have lived near a paper mill. This smells ever so slightly like a benign whiff of that aroma on days the wind would blow just right. Otherwise, there is truly nothing there. I find this impressive, actually. It’s like a scented version of those quiet rooms that will drive you insane if you spend too much time there.
Palate:
This is..unpleasant. I have tasted moonshine of dodgy origin; that tasted better. This tastes like whiskey that someone had to hustle off the fermentation track. Whiskus interruptus. Not only does it look and smell completely unaged, it tastes that way, too. If I strain, like really, really, really strain, I can distantly locate some elements of caramel, but again, it’s more like sweetness that has just barely begun to caramelize. More like sugar cubes you’d feed a horse.
Finish:
Comments:
I wanted to let the whiskey speak for itself. But it had nothing to say. It has been said that Jackson was seeking a whiskey that worked for everyone. My concern is that, when trying to accommodate everyone, you accommodate no one.rnAs an aside, when tasting it, my boyfriend wandered in, tried a sample, and said, “All hat, no cattle.” Enough said.

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.

Carin Moonin

Carin Moonin swapped a 5th-floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ, for a house in SE Portland a decade ago and hasn't looked back. She appreciates Portland's vibrant whiskey scene, finding it complements both the weather and her mood. Carin enjoys exploring the diverse world of brown liquor and its many facets. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and others. When she's not indulging in whiskey or writing about it, you can find Carin running, reading, or on the hunt for free samples in grocery stores.

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