Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Wonderland Distilling. 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 towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
Wonderland Distilling Co is a new kid on the Michigan block. While they are aging their whiskies in Muskegon, they are blending up limited edition batches of other Michigan spirits. First up they have two blended whiskey options for adventurous Michiganders and beyond. One is cask strength and the other cut with pure Lake Michigan water. Would you expect anything less from the land surrounded by The Great Lakes?
As their story says, “it begins with a lake“. That’s how many stories start in the great state of Michigan. Lake adventures are a way of life. So are dunes and forests. Why not make a whiskey brand dedicated to all the outdoor lovers by sourcing all local ingredients? Not only do they call themselves a craft distillery, but they also pride themselves on having locally made distilling equipment.
A whiskey made for the independent souls, the adventure seekers. Let’s see how it stacks up to my rather adventurous palate.
Tasting Notes: Wonderland Blend of Straight Whiskeys – Cask Strength
Vital Stats: A custom blend of local whiskeys from hand-selected barrels. Made from 100 percent Michigan rye and Michigan wheat whiskeys, combined with 100% corn bourbon whiskey, aged separately and blended in small batches at their Muskegon distillery. This limited-edition blend is bottled straight from the barrel without proofing. My bottle was 119.85 proof. The bottles you can buy at the store will range from 117 to 123 depending on the batch.
Appearance: A deep golden yellow in color. Thin, fast-moving legs.
Nose: Surprisingly mild for the proof but there was still that solvent aroma of a strong whiskey. There was also lovely floral hints, butterscotch and brown sugar.
Palate: I always brace myself a little for the higher proof whiskies and need a few sips before I can jot down my tasting notes. Oftentimes, I add water to see how it opens up or changes the palate. On this Wonderland Distilling Co whiskey there was a lot of burn but also a lot of sweetness. I detected notes of caramel, spicy rye, pepper and citrus oil.
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