Distillery 291 part 1

During our journey of crafting spirits we had the opportunity to make a peach brandy made from peaches from a local farm. After we were able to run it through our still we wanted to put it in a barrel to age it some and create a better and softer flavor for it. During our search we found you can get new and used barrels through various companies. The first company we tried with new barrels did not work out since they would not seal up and had holes in them. Our second attempt we went through Southeast Barrel Supply and purchased some used refillable barrels. Once we received them we noticed there was some sort of extra wood inside the barrel. We took out the spiral oak pieces and the aspen stave and attempted to squeeze out some of the sweet nectar from them in order to see what it was like. From the little bit that we got it was amazing to taste and we wanted to know more about the original product that was aged in that barrel. Upon further research it was a product from Distillery 291 and their small batch bourbon where they put some local aspen wood staves in the barrel for extra flavor. After this I reached out to one of the distiller's there and told him about the story. After talking for a little while they most graciously sent us a sample pack of their offerings. In todays part we will be talking about their small batch bourbon both in barrel proof and their proofed down version.

The first one we started to drink was the small batch bourbon at 100 proof. Once we poured it into our Glencairn glasses we were presented with a golden amber hue. When the liquid is moved around in the glass it creates a slight green/grey hue towards the lip and clung to the sides of the glass for a bit.

The nose offered the normal bourbon smells that bring it right down home plate with the vanilla, brown sugar, and the charred oak. Although the oak was more of a fresh cut oak smell rather than the seasoned oak smell you would have for firewood. It had a bit of a fruitiness to it with the cherry and green apple smells to it, which together created a bit of a cherry tart/turnover smell. On the very back end was a faint smell of fresh cut grass smell.

On to the taste of it, we were actually pleasantly surprised. It had an initial toffee/caramel taste to it that had the sweetness last through the entire tasting. The cherry came out in the taste as well but developed more into a chocolate covered cherry. It started of with a bit of dark chocolate and the bitterness associated with it then transitioned into the sweet cherry of it. Buried below all of these flavors there was a bit of a peppercorn spice. Once you swallow the bourbon it does linger in your mouth and stay with you a while instead of vanishing as quickly as you swallow it.

Once we finished with the proofed down version we poured the barrel proof version whichi is offered at 128.3 proof and you can definitely tell it has a higher alcohol content. This was at 128.3. It was very similar to the proofed version but did have its differences. Once in the glass it was a darker hue which was to be expected. Instead of the green/grey ring at the top of the liquid in the glass it had more of a clear ring.

On the nose it had all the same smells with the addition of what reminded us of the smell of the air when farmers are harvesting wheat fields. It has the little bit or dry dirt and the wheat smell in it after the tractors turn everything up.

Once the liquid hits you mouth you do get the alcohol burn from the higher proof which is to be expected. Outside of the normal bourbon flavors the cherry does come out in it along with a bit of toasted pecan. The caramel that comes through is similar to the caramel topping you put on ice cream sundaes. It definitely warms you up on cold day or night.

Overall these two are both wonderful options from this distillery. Our palate and preference isn't quite open enough yet to prefer the barrel proof straight but it would be good in a cocktail. They currently do have distribution in Georgia but they are not as widespread as some of the other producers. We do recommend this distillery's product.