2025 Day 1 - Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Bottled in Bond)
Jimmy Red. Straight bourbon whiskey from the High Wire Distilling Company in Charleston, SC. This has a mash bill of 100% pure heritage red corn, which gives this whiskey its name.
Sitting at 100 proof. It is yellow and gold in color. The nose starts sweet, which speaks the corn. But that changes after the first sip. It transforms the nose to the aroma of brown sugar, vanilla, stone fruit and smoke, almost oaky.
The pallet is cherry, peppercorn, vanilla and more smoke. The finish reminds me of fig oil and sweet corn.
Although considering its proof, it drinks smooth. However, it does benefit from a rock or two.
Here's to hoping you enjoy this one. My palette says this is a winner, but taste is always open to interpretation.
Let us know what you think in the comments.
Happy New Year Paul & Meliza! Sorry we're a bit late to the party - the Christmas season this year was chaotic and relentless. We decided your amazing boxes would be the perfect way to ease into 2026. So here we go... This is a great start - first impression was "that's not a low-proof sip", but as I waited for the burning punch to the gut I was pleasantly surprised as the flavors came out and it finished with the perfect balance of heat and taste. We both noted sweeter hints of vanilla and cherry in the finish. After a few sips at full power, I muted it down with a cube and the characteristics became a bit more sh…
Oh, man...what a KICK. ASS. way to start the 2025 season! I wouldn't have thought sweet corn on the nose, till you suggested that, Paul, and of course you're dead-on. Now, as a kid who grew up among some of the earliest and longest-sustained corn fields in America, I feel like I can claim a little expert support. And as an Art Director, this label is my favorite out of all the Whisky Christmases yet! I need to catch up with the rest of you, so let's party...
Big Corn tempered with a nice vanilla flourish. I'd buy that.
What a tasty start! Brett really got the sweet corn and I got the vanilla. And a peppery finish.
A great pick to start us off! Sydney and I were both surprised at how smooth it was. Sydney found it too sweet (as per usual lol) but appreciates the oaky notes coupled with the peppery, caramel flavors.