Stolen Whiskey

Stolen Whiskey Aged 11 Years
46% ABV
$49.99
Website

What the Bottler Says
STOLEN American Whiskey begins with a mature 11-year-old whiskey. Ever insatiable, STOLEN tapped into industry experts by adding a layer of artistry rooted in extracting staves from ex-whiskey barrels and toasting them in a 360-degree rotation over an oak wood fire. Turning the staves at key points during the toast allowed STOLEN to capture richly nuanced flavors across the entire wood gradient, resulting in a smoky consistency for every barrel stave.

To impart these fire roasted notes into the whiskey, STOLEN employs a secondary, barrel-finishing process where “the juice” is continually analyzed for taste and nosed for aroma until it peaks in boldness resulting in an additional layer of finished flavor complexity that differentiates STOLEN Whiskey from other traditional American whiskies and bourbons. On the nose is a roasted coffee bouquet that enhances dark fruits and lingers through an exceptionally long finish. On the palate, natural flavors of toasted caramel, dark molasses and smoky chocolate mingle. STOLEN Whiskey’s initial buttery mouthfeel ultimately balances out a bold and lasting finish. For a list of recipes, check out our Cocktails.

What Gary Says
Nose: Oak, smoke, char, burnt sugar, alcohol, solvent, tobacco.
Palate: Smoke, oak, subtle sweet brown sugar.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying and peppery.
Comments: Important to note that this isn’t bourbon (so don’t expect that). It isn’t labeled as “straight whiskey” either, despite having an age statement beyond 2 yrs (which could mean a few things, but likely that there are additives). Nothing wrong with all that (Early Times is an example of non-straight whiskey), but it should be clear to align expectations. This isn’t in my wheelhouse. Smoke and oak, and not much else. The nose had a tinge of solvent or cleaner that I didn’t care for, which thankfully wasn’t on the palate. I expect less in terms of flavor and complexity from ‘just whiskey’, and this fell into that squarely – although I think the 11 yr age statement set me up to expect more than I got. Just too one dimensional for me (even at a heck of a lot less money).
Rating: Probably Pass

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