Breuckelen? Don’t we mean Brooklyn? Well, yes… and no. In the 17th century, what is now the largest of the five boroughs that makes up the city I love to visit but would not want to live in (I’m a Bostonian, this is a compliment), was settled by the Dutch. After dispossessing the native Lenape population, Dutch settlers laid down roots and named this area Breuckelen, perhaps after a town of the same name in the Netherlands.
Originally a bustling hamlet, over time, Brooklyn lost its luster and fell into disrepair (I’m not a hipster, but I do remember this time), until urban sprawl pushed people across the East River, joining hipsters in revitalizing a forgotten and underrepresented borough.
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Both whiskies are well-made, no-nonsense spirits that are solid expressions of their respective category. The bourbon comes in a little hot but the red wheat softens up the heat and the barley adds a toasty, cereal component that compliments the sweetness of the corn. The rye is a spicy little number that benefits from the corn and I really don’t miss its lack of barley.
Tasting Notes: Breuckelen Distilling No. 1 First Release Straight Bourbon Whiskey Project Bottled in Bond
Vital Stats: Bourbon produced in accordance with the Bottled-in-Bond act of 1897, 100 proof, 60% corn, 20% red wheat, and 20% malted barley mash bill, aprox. $50-$80
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Appearance: Bronze-gold with touches of deep rust
Nose: Vanilla, cocoa nibs, dried cherries, slightly petrol-ish like one might find in Sauternes, Jordan almonds, aged leather
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READ THE STORYPalate: The nose delivers, heat melting into caramel, unctuous notes of dried dark fruit, toast with cinnamon butter, and a surprising viscosity.
Final Thoughts and Score: 3.5/5 It’s solid, but a little pricey for a BiB. This is a whiskey for the passionate collector of BiB bourbons who wants to add New York to their stockpile. For the casual drinker, this may be a little too dear for the spend.
Tasting Notes: 77 Whiskey Bottled in Bond Bonded Rye & Corn
Vital Stats: 85% rye, 15% corn distilled and produced to meet the Bottled-in-Bond Act regulations, aproximately $75
Appearance: At first blush, well-worn Doc Marten’s ox-blood with a golden hue at the edge of the glass.
Nose: Lemon pie, grassy, banana, oak notes and a little touch of sweet red licorice.
Palate: The palate brings to mind the feeling of fresh grass after a light rain, a little astringent and tannic that falls off into a dry finish of oaky tropical notes, banana flavoring, white pepper.
Final Thoughts and Score: 2.5/5 It’s fine, for a relatively new entry into the darker spirits category from New York, but I think that this is still a little under-developed.
The Takeaway: For avid enthusiasts who want cool table talk and don’t mind a fairly steep price tag, either of these are good choices, but I’m more inclined to lean towards the bourbon on the shelf. For price:value ratios, these are probably not your cup of tea. In all, Breuckelen is heading in the right direction, and time will likely give Mr. Estabrook a firmer hold on these offerings.
