The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Randall H. Borkus
Rating: F
1819 Bourbon Whiskey
(Credit: Randall H. Borkus)
For nearly two centuries, Jacob Bromwell has made a name for itself producing quality American-made drinking vessels, housewares, and men’s accessories. Bromwell’s #1 best-selling item is their copper flasks, so they surveyed their customers and found whiskey to be the juice of choice for the majority of their flasks owners. Upon learning this, they decided to introduce their very own American bourbon whiskey brand, named for the year their founder and namesake established his manufacturing business, “1819”.
1819 bourbon whiskey is made in very limited batches at Citrus Distillers Distillery in Florida, one of a new class of distilleries based on the model of contracting production out to other parties. They also make Rum, Moonshine, Brandy, Tequila, Cream liquor, Gin, and Vodka.
Citrus Distillers made this particular whiskey using an unusual 100% sweet yellow corn mashbill, then it is aged for 2 years and 3 months at the distillery and its southern Florida climate, and bottled it at ABV is 40% to 80 proof.
The Bourbon
The 1819 Bourbon has a light caramel tone with thin, if any legs. The aroma is nondescript but for a hint of corn. There is not much to the mouth feel other than it is a bit warm. The flavor and finish is medicinal leaving an awful taste in your mouth! To be fair, I sampled this juice a couple of times on three different days to give it a chance.
The bottom line is I just could not finish a few ounce pour, not for the life of me. This 1819 juice will shock your taste buds if you dare to drink it neat! It is truly rotgut whiskey, folks.
The Price
It might sound like a novel idea to make your own Bourbon whiskey on contract, but the reality is it is as much art as process, and competition today is not forgiving. You can find this online for $39.99 – $74.99.
For about two years now I’ve been trying to figure out this bizarre underlying taste on the finish and a novice friend of mine after sipping a couple of Rip van Winkle’s asked me what was the least favorite bourbon I’ve ever had, so I shared a splash and the first words out of his mouth after sipping it where this taste like a Band-Aid. Darn. That’s the flavor I couldn’t identify. Wow. Thank you Alan from Minot North Dakota!