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Bourbon

J. Henry & Sons Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Whiskey

OVERALL
RATING

Whiskey Review: J. Henry & Sons Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Tasting Notes:

About:
Appearance:
J. Henry & Sons is light golden yellow in the glass
Nose:
Significant grassiness on the top of the nose, moving towards sweet, soft cornmeal. Hot corn tortillas, cherry/blueberry muffin with butter, and cherry syrup.
Palate:
, or has read even a fraction of my reviews, then they know of my undying love for and obsession with corn. Corn is a key driving force of the American whiskey industry, commodity agriculture, and my will to live. The potential for alternate corn variety use in whiskey appears to be endless, something my recent Blue Corn Bourbon feature highlighted. The American whiskey industry has spread its wings beyond the standard grains, and ventured into triticale, millet, brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, and even sorghum. Whether or not all of these grain variants fit into the TTB’s legal definition of whiskey, or even the American public’s definition is whiskey, is beyond me to say. J. Henry & Sons bourbon (image via Savannah Weinstock) However, the fact that the craft whiskey scene is rife with creativity and innovation is a boon to drinkers everywhere, no matter which way you slice it. A shining example of this trend is J. Henry & Sons out of rural Wisconsin. The Henry family has been farming their now 900 acre property since 1946, and produces all of the heirloom red corn, wheat, and rye for their whiskey on site. The small amount of barley used in production comes from another farm in the state. The five year aged whiskey, which is distilled off-site for them by another craft distillery , rests in an old dairy barn, with no temperature control to speak of. This means that brutal the midwestern weather has full sway over the aging liquid, from subzero temperatures in the winter to significant humidity and broiling heat in the summer. More on the farm can be seen in this quite sweet video made by a local news station. At approximately 60% heirloom red corn, 14% wheat, 14% rye, and 12% malted barley, J. Henry & Sons Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Whiskey meets the required amount of corn content for American bourbon law. It’s bottled at 46% ABV. I tasted batch #9, bottle #196. Tasting Notes: J. Henry & Sons Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Whiskey Appearance: J. Henry & Sons is light golden yellow in the glass Nose: Significant grassiness on the top of the nose, moving towards sweet, soft cornmeal. Hot corn tortillas, cherry/blueberry muffin with butter, and cherry syrup. Palate: Soft, pleasant mouthfeel from beginning to end, with a burst of tannin beginning mid-palate and following all the way into the finish. Damp wood shavings, peach cobbler, and cracked black pepper on corn muffins begin the palate. The cracked pepper melts into vegetal freshness, with both sweet and hot peppers leading. Jalapeño honey cornbread is the final impression. Finish: Bitter, warming, and short. Tannic! Final Thoughts: A round of applause for modest Midwestern farmers crushing the craft whiskey game. Elegant, unique, and with a pleasing diversity of favors, J. Henry & Sons is a craft bourbon worth seeking out. The use of heirloom red corn speaks to my love of both corn and alternative grains, and the quality of production honors the grain appropriately. Additionally, this Midwestern whiskey has all of the flavors that would perfectly suit Southern food! Score: 90/100 [ SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF J. HENRY & SONS WISCONSIN STRAIGHT BOURBON ]
Finish:
Bitter, warming, and short. Tannic!
Comments:

If anyone knows anything about my palate, or has read even a fraction of my reviews, then they know of my undying love for and obsession with corn.

Corn is a key driving force of the American whiskey industry, commodity agriculture, and my will to live. The potential for alternate corn variety use in whiskey appears to be endless, something my recent Blue Corn Bourbon feature highlighted.

The American whiskey industry has spread its wings beyond the standard grains, and ventured into triticale, millet, brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, and even sorghum. Whether or not all of these grain variants fit into the TTB’s legal definition of whiskey, or even the American public’s definition is whiskey, is beyond me to say.

J. Henry & Sons Wisconsin Straight Bourbon
J. Henry & Sons bourbon (image via Savannah Weinstock)

However, the fact that the craft whiskey scene is rife with creativity and innovation is a boon to drinkers everywhere, no matter which way you slice it. A shining example of this trend is J. Henry & Sons out of rural Wisconsin. The Henry family has been farming their now 900 acre property since 1946, and produces all of the heirloom red corn, wheat, and rye for their whiskey on site. The small amount of barley used in production comes from another farm in the state.

The five year aged whiskey, which is distilled off-site for them by another craft distillery, rests in an old dairy barn, with no temperature control to speak of. This means that brutal the midwestern weather has full sway over the aging liquid, from subzero temperatures in the winter to significant humidity and broiling heat in the summer. More on the farm can be seen in this quite sweet video made by a local news station.

At approximately 60% heirloom red corn, 14% wheat, 14% rye, and 12% malted barley, J. Henry & Sons Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Whiskey meets the required amount of corn content for American bourbon law. It’s bottled at 46% ABV. I tasted batch #9, bottle #196.

Tasting Notes: J. Henry & Sons Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Appearance: J. Henry & Sons is light golden yellow in the glass

Nose: Significant grassiness on the top of the nose, moving towards sweet, soft cornmeal. Hot corn tortillas, cherry/blueberry muffin with butter, and cherry syrup.

Palate: Soft, pleasant mouthfeel from beginning to end, with a burst of tannin beginning mid-palate and following all the way into the finish. Damp wood shavings, peach cobbler, and cracked black pepper on corn muffins begin the palate. The cracked pepper melts into vegetal freshness, with both sweet and hot peppers leading. Jalapeño honey cornbread is the final impression.

Finish: Bitter, warming, and short. Tannic!

Final Thoughts:

A round of applause for modest Midwestern farmers crushing the craft whiskey game. Elegant, unique, and with a pleasing diversity of favors, J. Henry & Sons is a craft bourbon worth seeking out. The use of heirloom red corn speaks to my love of both corn and alternative grains, and the quality of production honors the grain appropriately.

Additionally, this Midwestern whiskey has all of the flavors that would perfectly suit Southern food!

Score: 90/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF J. HENRY & SONS WISCONSIN STRAIGHT BOURBON]

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