Dexter Three Wood Straight Bourbon
Finished With 200 Year Oak, Maple Wood & Cherry wood
50.3% ABV
$50
Website
We would like to thank The Dexter Bourbon Company and IT Public Relations for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
Dexter Three Wood Straight Bourbon, named one of the twelve best bourbons in the world by the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2020, is returning bourbon to its 1800s roots – “Of the people, by the people, for the people” – paying homage to Edmund Dexter, one of the leading bourbon pioneers of his time. Edmund Dexter’s blends were so renowned that even Charles Dickens and King Edward VII visited him at his home in Cincinnati.
The Dexter Bourbon Company was founded by Doug Hall and Joe Girgash. Doug Hall is also the Co-founder and CEO of Brain Brew Custom Whiskey and the Founder of Eureka! Ranch, with one of its long-term clients being Edrington, distillers of The Macallan. They also have a collaboration with Edrington to produce Noble Oak Double Oak Bourbon, a unnamed 94 point San Francisco Gold Medal winner, that is available nationwide.
As Doug states, “In a marketplace where the really great bourbons are impossible to find – we are excited to have plenty of Dexter Bourbon available for this holiday season.” It has been long understood that 70% of the flavor and 100% of the smoothness of bourbon and all whiskies comes from the interaction of the whiskey and the wood.
The incredible flavor of Dexter Three Wood is a result of WoodCraft Finishing with three artisan woods – vintage 200-Year Oak, Maple Wood and Cherry Wood. Each of these woods provides a different element – a long, luxurious finish, incredible smoothness, and fresh, bright flavor. Dexter Three Wood was awarded the highest score – 95 points – by the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and it was selected as one of the Top 100 Spirits in the World.
The history of bourbon dates back to the pre-prohibition era in the 1800s when most whiskey was purchased from whiskey merchants who were barrel blenders. Merchants would buy whiskey from farmers, and then, they would blend various barrels together to create different tastes depending on their customer’s preferences. In Cincinnati, the Queen city of the West, there were over 100 barrel blenders. But there were more around the world, including the famous Johnnie Walker, in Scotland.
Dexter is crafted from a 36% rye straight bourbon.
TASTING NOTES: Bitter Chocolate, Orange Peel, and Vanilla nose. A Palate of Earthy, Peppery Rye combines with Cherry, Caramel and Cocoa gives way to a long and supple finish.
What Gary Says
Nose: Vanilla, orange zest, buttered popcorn, baking spices with caramel, hint of maple and cherry with oak.
Palate: Oily mouthfeel with caramel, honey, vanilla, citrus spice followed by cinnamon, pepper and cocoa.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, drying with cocoa and cracked pepper.
Comments: What stands out to me with this is the sharp crack of pepper – which you get a sharpness from a high-rye mashbill but this is more than that (perhaps owning to the wood treatment). The maple and cherry are quite subtle, showing up only a bit on the nose. I really dig the mouthfeel, and a bit of water thickens it up even more and tamps some of the pepper spice notes, as well as bringing out a bit of the cherry wood on the palate.
I completely agree with Gary’s comments. I was recommended to try this bottle while I was shopping in the store called The Blind Pig Bourbon Market in Bardstown, Kentucky. I took them up on their recommendation and Dexter Three Wood Bourbon is absolutely phenomenal!!! This is a truly stand-out bourbon that is a great sipper and a bottle that you want to keep back for special occasions or simply enjoying Dexter on your own. In fact, I strongly recommend buying an extra bottle of Dexter and keeping it available as a resource.