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Unbridled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

Why can't bourbon be the drink of celebration, the way champagne owns the toast? Unbridled aims to change that—but does this bold bourbon truly deliver a moment worth celebrating?

OVERALL RATING

8
$100
  • Charles Steele is an attorney and whiskey enthusiast with a penchant for the peculiar.
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Tasting Notes

About:

UNBRIDLED brain child of India Robinson was designed, curated, and born to make bourbon synonymous with celebration and meeting the big moments. She asked why can’t Bourbon be a celebration the way champagne is during a toast. What she built is a story of legacy and liquid gold.

From press releases: Robinson has spent her career at the intersection of prestige and pleasure. A Kentucky-born entrepreneur, she built her résumé inside some of the most storied names in the global spirits industry — Jameson, Martell Cognac, Perrier-Jouët — before stepping into the NFL, where she served as CMO for a two-time Super Bowl champion franchise.

“People celebrate important occasions with champagne or tequila, but rarely bourbon,” Robinson said. “I remember a client celebrating a major win — we had the opportunity to order 20 bottles to our table — and when I suggested bourbon, I was told, ‘Bourbon isn’t for celebrating.’ It just never sat right with me.”

“How could one of America’s most iconic spirits not be the face of celebration?” she continued. “With Unbridled, we’re changing that, positioning bourbon alongside champagne, tequila, and luxury cognac, and inviting people to rethink when and how bourbon is enjoyed.”

Robinson’s inspiration also reflects her own family history. Her great-grandfather was a Prohibition-era whiskey bootlegger, while her great-great-grandfather was a Black cowboy who broke horses after emancipation. Both stories inform the brand’s name and its spirit of independence.
I will say it is obvious the incredible attention to detial this whiskey has received. It stands out on the shelf, it pours surprisingly well (the bottle does not look like it would), and it feels great in your hand. Ms. Robinson did not miss a moment when building this brand. They even have a spotify playlist which is, admittadly, quite good.
Appearance:
Clear copper color with semi-slow legs which cling to the glass. Tasted neat in a Glencairn glass after resting.
Nose:
Medium to high complexity of the nose. Safron and wood almost a perfum out of the glass. I find roses and alcohol well mixed with sublte wood grain, leather, and nice charcoal smell.
Palate:
The body opens with some of the notes of the nose. Smoke, cigar tobacco, and caramels bring out the first bits of the body. We evolve into complex dark cocoa powder with a different sensation to the front of the mouth. It holds well and dances the flavors well around the palate.
Finish:
The mouthfeel is watery with a shorter finish. We find charcoal and touches of florals interwoven with light oak. There is a nice cinnamon back taste that melds well with the whiskey and keeps everything softer while still being distinctly bourbon.
Comments:
Champagne this isn’t but also that wasn’t the goal. Honestly a carbonated bourbon sounds awful. What this is, is something I could see pouring in moments of triumph or joy. Bourbon does have an image and it wasn’t something I really thought about until researching this whiskey. The only ‘high profile’ image bourbon ever gets is the Kentucky Derby and there its generally only in a Mint Julip. I’ve certainly celebrated with bourbon but not like champagne. While I don’t know the intersection between Champagne and Bourbon, I do think this hits a lot of notes you want in something you’re celebrating with. Something worthy of a moment.

While I cannot say this will become the new drink of choice to open after a big win, I can say it is certainly a good option. It is light in a lot of the best ways while also staying true to bourbon flavors and depth. Ms. Robinson is coming in with a vision and something to say about this whiskey, and I look forward to seeing it evolve.

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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