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New Era “Magic Moonbow At Cumberland Falls” Bourbon Review

Can a bourbon taste like a summer picnic while defying every expectation? New Era's Kentucky Parks Collection proves it can with this wild, adventurous cask-strength release.

OVERALL RATING

8
$99
  • Charles Steele is an attorney and whiskey enthusiast with a penchant for the peculiar.
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Tasting Notes

About:

New Era Whiskey, a Lexington-based company known for limited releases unveiled its first retail collection featuring three cask-strength bourbons named after Kentucky state parks. The collection includes Nature’s Crossing at Natural Bridge (115 proof), Dark Wonders at Mammoth Cave (113.8 proof), and Magic Moonbow at Cumberland Falls (115 proof). Each eight-year-aged bourbon carries a suggested retail price of $99 per 750ml bottle and will be available exclusively in Kentucky stores starting September 6.

“These three barrels are exceptional, and I’m thrilled to share them with bourbon fans across the state,” said co-founder Zane Brammell.

New Era Whiskey emerged from the pandemic when Brammell, a healthcare worker seeking stress relief, discovered bourbon collecting. He founded a single-barrel club in 2022 before expanding into a full brand with co-founder Matt Hobbs in 2024. The company is also donating $3,000 to the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund to assist flood victims from the April 2025 disasters.

The move to retail distribution marks New Era’s transition from exclusive club releases to broader market availability, though distribution remains limited to Kentucky for this initial launch.
Appearance:
Deep Bronze
Nose:
We start off with tremendous melon sweetness, like ripe watermelon. This nose is a summer picnic of sweets. Sugar, strawberries, wheat grains, sweet corn, lemon grasses and just the hint of light oak.
Palate:
The sugar rush of a nose takes a small shift towards bubble gum and sour candies. As the palate expands we find charcoal, cactus water, and almond milk. It is adventurous and expansive with a lot of twists and turns.
Finish:
Bright and fast! We have a water mouthfeel with minimal after taste. It’s quick but leaves a nice hint of everything that came before.
Comments:
This is branded as an exploration into what New Era can do, and this is truly interesting. I wish my sample was large enough to revisit but alas this one glass was all I have. It is bright, fun, and fast without being a typical bourbon. It really shines brightly and what is possible with cask bourbon. While I can certainly say this whiskey will not be for all consumers, it is worth finding and trying.

I really had fun with this whiskey and I think you will too. For nothing else, it’s just different and sometimes that’s worth a glass (or two). I look forward to what else this distillery has in store!

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.

Charles Steele

Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.

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