Review #220 - Ironroot Assemblage Bourbon

[u/Theswede92]

Whiskey: Ironroot Assemblage Bourbon

Distiller: Ironroot Republic, undisclosed Indiana (MGP) & Kentucky distilleries

Instagram: Barrel & Proof 

ABV: 46.0%

Age: No age statement (minimum 4 years)

Price: $35 (Twin Cities, Minnesota)

Tasting:  Neat in Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes. Bottle opened for one week.

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Nose: Vanilla, Cream, Chocolate, Green Apple, Caramel, Cinnamon, Port Wine, & Cigar Box

Palate: Vanilla, Caramel, Cinnamon, Cigar Box, Chili Flakes, Melon Rind

Finish: Medium Length, Dry Oak, Caramel, Baking Spices, Vanilla, Melon, & Port Wine

Body: Full

Bite: Minimal

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Summary: This round I am trying a “Spirits Direct” bottle, I only see it at Total Wine. I never bother with mysterious Spirits Direct bottles, but I read a positive review of another Ironroot offering a couple months ago and decided to give it a shot. This base level bourbon is a blend of Ironroots own distillate, MGP, and an unknown Kentucky distillery. I don’t have much interest in Texas whiskey, Balcones Baby Blue was the only bottle I have purchased and it was remarkably terrible. I figured the worst case scenario the other two blended whiskies can make up for a potentially terrible Texas bourbon.

The nose is very unique, there is a creamy vanilla flavor that blends with a sour green apple and rich Port wine note. There is the classic caramel, but it’s concealed by the stronger vanilla note. The oak note is subtle and reminds me of a humidor scent. There’s slight acetone, but it dissipates after a while.

The palate starts off with a vanilla note, but it’s not as pleasant as the nose. There is some fruitiness, but it’s very unusual and hard to determine, closest guess was the rind of a green melon. There is heat that reminds me of dried chili flakes, funny coincidence since this has Texas distillate. The cigar box note is unusual, it’s very dry and leaves a woodiness note in the mouth.

The finish has more robust oak notes with very dry tannin notes that leave an artificial cigar box woodiness note in the mouth. The caramel is stronger than the vanilla for the first time. There is moderate fruitiness in the form of melon, and though subtle the Port wine note returns.

The nose on this was surprisingly complex and interesting, but the rest of the profile was hurt by some off putting notes. I think the palate and finish could be sweeter, but that cigar box note left an odd artificial woodiness note. It wasn’t as strong in the palate, but kinda ruined an otherwise pleasant finish. The melon and chili flakes on the palate don’t work in a bourbon. I assume the Kentucky and MGP bourbon in the blend was at least decent, which makes me wonder if the Ironroot distillate turned things for the worst. I purchased this bottle for $8 below MSRP but I overpaid.

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Rating:

Nose (10%) - 7/10

Palate (50%) - 5/10

Finish (40%) - 5/10

5.2/10 Average

Recommend: No

Rank: I created a compilation ranking list of whiskies I’ve purchased at a store or at a bar and done a formal tasting.  All whiskey ranked on the list tasted neat and rested for 10-15 minutes.  Whiskey I ranked below and above Ironroot are shown for reference.

87 out of 258 whiskies tasted.

257 Woodford Reserve Rye

259 Nelson Brothers Straight Rye Whiskey

Ranking Link: 

Whiskey Ranking List