Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
In the wide world of whiskey, active brands can be found on all six populated continents. Distillers often look to the quirks of their national identity to find their selling point. British distilleries can find their identity in the long-standing associations between regions and their signature flavors. Their younger American cousins, meanwhile, often look to the historical landmark of Prohibition.
The era of Prohibition, in which the sale and transportation of alcohol was illegal in the United States, stretched from 1920-1933. Now a full century in the past, it still carries a host of iconic associations. Its legacy lives on in images of the violent conflicts of gangsters, the jazzy romance of the speakeasy, and the post-prohibition reinvention of the brown spirit. The reverberations of prohibition are still felt in how American whiskey brands itself.
High Bank Distillery’s line of Whiskey War spirits evoke the history of Prohibition with bold intent. They note how it “is said” that Prohibition started just 12 miles from their current facility in Westerville, Ohio. The story they provide is a genuine American tall tale of a twice-exploded saloon, the eponymous whiskey war against the newly formed Anti-Saloon League, and Henry Corbin bearing two pistols before a crowd of protestors in defense of whiskey.
It’s these two pistols that form the logo of Whiskey War, crossed ominously above the label. As a student of history and lover of truth, I question whether it all went down quite so dramatically. As someone who appreciates the aesthetic joys of whiskey, I want nothing more than to believe every word. While I care about the fine details of whiskey production and geographic influences, I keep a place in my heart for distinctly American yarns of guns, explosions, and outlaw saloons.
It’s an entry into the Whiskey War line that I’m reviewing today: the Whiskey War Double Double Oaked. A previous entry in the line, the Whiskey War Barrel Proof, captured the title of “Best Blended Whiskey in America” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021. The Whiskey War Double Double Oaked earned the same award in 2022. It’s a decorated spirit with a fanciful story to boot. A description from the distillery notes that it is “Whiskey War Barrel Proof that has been aged a second and third time in new oak barrels.”
Tasting Notes: Whiskey War Double Double Oaked
Vital Stats: 56.75% ABV. Mash bill: Undisclosed, but rye heavy. 113.50 Proof. aged a second and third time in new oak barrels. Suggested Retail: 99.99 USD.
Appearance: Mahogany
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Nose: The rye is immediately apparent in its oak body and toasty vanilla sweetness. There is an undercurrent of sherry that ties these woody and gourmand scents together.
Palate: Like many rye whiskeys, I’m greeted with a strong baseline of oak wood. As the profile opens up, though, I can pick out notes of allspice, stewed tea, and the earthy sweetness of clover honey. While over 100 proof, the burn of alcohol is relatively light and never overwhelms the flavors. When the swallow passes, I enjoy a finish of maraschino cherry and cigar box wood.
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