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Columbia Creek Tennessee Whiskey Review

Can charcoal filtering and 6 years of aging tame a high-corn Tennessee Whiskey? Columbia Creek's bold, spicy profile may surprise you. Read our full review.

OVERALL RATING

6
$49.95
  • Jeffrey Nitschke is a Portland-based attorney passionate about whiskey and cigars, with deep ties to the American whisky community and culture.
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Tasting Notes

About:

A lesser recognized, but no less storied, American whiskey category is Tennessee Whiskey. Nestled in a state just south of Kentucky, Tennessee has a similar climate, but with longer and typically hotter summers which slightly accelerates the maturation rate of whiskeys made there. Tennessee also requires that its whiskeys go through the Lincoln County Process, which filters new distillate through columns of charcoal before being placed in oak barrels, making it’s finished product softer than it’s northern relative.

Columbia Creek Tennessee Whiskey is a dyed-in-the-wool example of the category. Produced in Tennessee, filtered through the Lincoln County process, and aged in charred oak barrels, the distillate is comprised of 80% corn, 10% rye, and 10% malted barley, giving it a the sweetness Tennessee Whiskey is known for.
Appearance:
Light gold with brown tinges.
Nose:
Buttered toffee, tobacco, and bran with the faintest hint of raisins.
Palate:
Initial notes of sweet honeyed biscuits give way to acidic pencil shavings and cream soda. The whiskey quickly transitions to spicy cloves and bitter coffee bean that overwhelm through the end.
Finish:
Dry walnuts, bitter orange rind, and faint spice of coriander seed.
Comments:
Despite the 6 year age statement and charcoal filtering, this offering is spicy and abrasive. The core stays true to the Tennessee Whiskey roots, containing robust sweetness typical of the high corn mash. Perfect for a summer day over ice to take the edge off, the whiskey would do well as a mid-tier offering at a local bar, but fails to stand out from a competitive field.

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.

Jeffrey Nitschke

Jeffrey Nitschke is Portland area attorney whose career has dovetailed with a love of fine spirits and cigars. His hometown is rich with microdistilleries, which has afforded him the opportunity to learn the nuances of whiskey tasting and whiskey making. His writing and enthusiasm for the hobby has led to lasting friendships with other whiskey aficionados and connisures across the United States.

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