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Sentinel of the Desert Bourbon Whiskey Del Bac Mesquited Barrel Staves Finish Review

Can Arizona's scorching desert produce exceptional bourbon? Sentinel of the Desert proves it can, using mesquite wood to create a uniquely Southwestern whiskey.

OVERALL RATING

8
$40
  • Charles Steele is an attorney and whiskey enthusiast with a penchant for the peculiar.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Sentinel of the Desert Bourbon is a product of Arizona. A state not traditionally associated with whiskey or a climate particularly partial to the maturation of whiskey. However, out of the sun baked desert comes this unique product. The astute reader may have noticed two unfamilair terms. One, Whiskey Del Bac, and the second Mesquite.

Whiskey Del Bac in a quick summation, is a brand and concept. The concept is using mesquite wood to dry and age the grains used in the creation of whiskey. Essentially using mesquite instead of peat. Mesquite, for those unfamiliar with the world of grilling/smoking meats, is a tree indigenous to North America. It is abundant throughout the American Southwest, and is famous for a rather robust aroma when burned. Combined, these are the cornerstone for Whiskey Del Bac.

Sentinel Bourbon starts with a blend of 2 and 3 year old bourbon distilled and initially aged in Ohio. This 60% yellow corn, 35% pumpernickel rye, and 5% heritage malt mash bill bourbon is finished on freshly harvested Whiskey Del Bac® mesquited barrel staves. It’s then filtered across mesquite charcoal from our mesquited malting process in what we call the Pima County Process™.
Appearance:
The color is light yellow, like straw.
Nose:
The mesquite impact is very evident and provides a lovely aroma to set the stage. The flavor expands to include mint, grass, rye and charcoal. The profile is pleasurable without becoming overwhelming.
Palate:
To start we have nice caramelized sugars, dried light fruits like pears. The profile begins to change into the darker notes of mesquite wood and malted grains. There is a note of sea salt maturing among the wood smoke. I find lovely toasted cereal grains and the taste closes with the softest touch of mesquite smoke.
Finish:
The watery mouthfeel does not hide from the long finish on the tongue. The hold is of naturally dried wood and sugary fruits. It is complex but leaves a soft whisp of flavor on the tongue to hold until the next sip.
Comments:
A great deal of care and energy went into this whiskey and it paid off. The nose through finish are complimentary while also exploring the complexity of the drink. While I think the several layers of processing helped mellow out the profile it also may have muted some of the more interesting flavors to the whiskey. However, it is certainly a fun beverage and would be right at home sitting on a sun baked porch looking out over a desert sunset.

Really fun and enjoyable whiskey.

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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