Tamworth Distilling Releases Whiskey Bottling Honoring Thoreau

Tamworth Distilling out of New Hampshire recently announced the release of a new whiskey bottling honoring American essayist, poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau.

A straight corn whiskey aged two years, The Mellow Fellow name is described by the brand as a representation of Thoreau’s desire to live peacefully amongst his natural surroundings. The bottling is made from a hybrid of Flint and Dent corn kernels, allowing for a straw-like color, with a citrine sparkle, according to official tasting notes. It also contains a balance of organic raw rye, along with non- GMO malted barley to convert the carbohydrates to sugar during the processes.

The distillery uses a sculpted mash program where distillers use culture from the last batch in the next sequential mash. This process helps to build flavor and naturally control acidity in the wash.

The Mellow Fellow corn whiskey (image via Tamworth Distilling)

“We modify our approach from our bourbon in a way to exemplify corn’s lighter nuances. Sweet and mild, with elegant whiffs of hay and apples. A major distinction between bourbon and its lesser-known sibling Corn Whiskey is the use of extremely high corn percentage and used barrels,” Distiller Jamie Oakes said in a prepared statement. “In the case of The Mellow Fellow, house-made apple brandy and bourbon barrels are used to age for 2 years. This softens the spirit, without loading it with oaky tannins and heavy wood sugars. The result is faint impressions of the used barrels and a pale golden hue.”

The bottle for The Mellow Fellow is adorned with Thoreau’s journal entry dated July 5, 1858, where he poetically describes his visit to Tamworth and the surrounding New Hampshire region. This limited small-batch spirit is available while supplies last exclusively at Tamworth Distilling for a retail price of $50. Official tasting notes can be found below.

A snifter of The Mellow Fellow has a light fruit and cornbread aroma. The color is straw-like, with a citrine sparkle. Kettlecorn on the nose and in the first taste, which hints to a cream soda to smooth out the mid-palate. The fruit from the barrel character is present in an apple blossom-like peak. Fragrant and mild, with no over-the-top chewiness or oily mouthfeel. Created with a hybrid of Flint and Dent corn kernels, combined with careful finishing in used oak barrels, you have yourself a sipper deserving of the title, The Mellow Fellow.

Mellow golden hue with more apple and berry fruit on the nose than typical caramel and vanilla. A touch of brown sugar sits just below the top notes. Overall, a custard-like presence on the nose, soft and creamy.

The palate has a little more sweet corn grain character than the aroma leads on. The mid-palate has an attribute from the rye, slightly peppery while it activates the sides of the tongue and cheeks. Clean, less oily than the bourbon brethren.