Today, we are tasting a relative newcomer to the Bourbon scene, Big House Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The name refers to prisons, and there is an unlocked ball and chain on the label. Buffalo Trace Distillery makes this Small Batch juice, though strangely, it is not mentioned on the Buffalo Trace website. In fact, there is not a lot of info out there about this stuff. We could not even find a website for it, so none of our usual quotes from the maker.
Big House is 90 proof, aged for a 6-year stretch (another prison reference), and comes in a normal-looking corked bottle. The mash bill, according to other sites, is 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley, and we believe it is pretty easy to find. We say believe because the price is around $15, and we are just not normally looking for Bourbon at that price level. This bottle was given to us by a friend, otherwise, we probably never would have tried it.
First, as readers of this blog know, we do not like gimmicks, think extra aging in some liquor or wine barrels and labels and names can also be a gimmick. Is this prison motif one? We know it is a crowded Bourbon market and makers want some way to stand out. We just feel like if you make a good product at a good price, you will rise to the top. Second, it has been a long long time since we have had anything, Bourbon, rye, hell, even tequila for under $20. So, expectations are low. Having said that, we are lovers of all things Buffalo Trace.
NOSE
Todd: Lots of good secondary scents, including vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, leather, and a nice bit of a nutty corn smell. Ice dumbed it all down.
Matt: First thing I smell is wood then corn and vanilla with a touch of leather. Also, get hints of maple syrup, plums, red apple, and some spices like cinnamon and clove. Ice did nothing to the smell.
TASTE
Todd: Decent neat with the same sweet vanilla, brown sugar, and caramel that was on the nose. Secondary flavors include leather and corn. Ice didn’t do much.
Matt: Slightly hot neat, and very sweet forward but with touches of oak, leather, and corn. No real change with ice.
FINISH
Todd: Short to medium with some more sweetness.
Matt: Medium with a hint of the baking spices that I got on the nose.
OVERALL
Todd: Strange that I didn’t really pick up on the 35% rye. No matter, this is a good buy.
Matt: Great for the price, I was expecting a lot less.
Nose 4.25 out of 5
Taste 7.75 out of 10
Finish 3.5 out of 5
Total score 15.5 out of 20 barrels.
Our hero, Buffalo Trace, comes through again. Big House has a really good nose, a good taste, and it is fantastic that they can sell a 6-year-old Bourbon for under $20, In fact, our friend says he paid just $14 for the bottle that he gave to us. This stuff is fine neat and makes a great mixer. And at this price, you could even mix it with cola if that is your thing.
We will both, as long as it stays this price, have a bottle of Big House Bourbon on our shelves, and we advise you should as well. Oh, and did we say, we like gimmicks.