Fistful of Bourbon Review

By Father John Rayls

Rating: B+

Fistful of Bourbon
(Credit: John Rayls)

William Grant & Sons is renowned for their spirits production, winning “Distiller of the Year” at either the International Wine & Spirits Challenge or the International Spirits Challenge for
11 out of the last 12 years. They are best known for their Scotch Whiskies, a stable that includes Grant’s Blended Whisky and the single malts The Glenfiddich and The Balvenie, but also Monkey Shoulder and Tuthilltown in America.

Fistful of Bourbon represents what happens when William Grant & Sons turns its Scotch-derived blending know-how to American Whiskey, drawing on five distinct straight bourbons (hence the “fistful”). It’s bottled at 90 Proof all from unnamed sourced straight bourbon whiskey.

The Bourbon
The label is a real throwback to a late ‘60s-early ‘70s period, with some unusual colors and even more unusual fonts. I would expect to see this in a poster frame under a blacklight rather than on a bottle of bourbon.

The bourbon itself is a healthy copper brown in the bottle, which changes to a golden brown in the glass with bright polished brass highlights. The legs are thick and slow and beautiful.

The nose is faint in intensity, with some distant light tingling. I noticed a light green leafy note over caramel with some faint oak. It’s light and not easily explored.

The mouthfeel is also light, but also a little creamy. Most of the action occurs at mid-mouth involving both upper and lower regions. The palate experience is fairly short with a light punch of caramel,
some cinnamon and a little sweetness. Later on, a general allspice makes itself known (very politely) along with some faint nutmeg.

The finish is stronger than the initial tasting and is a medium to long experience with more sweet cinnamon. It eventually involves the whole mouth, but without any real strength. Regardless, the finish is my favorite part. The cinnamon just keeps coming in multiple waves.

This is a very balanced bourbon blend that is a very easy sipping bourbon for all level of bourbon consumers. Fistful of Bourbon is really worth your hard earned cash.

The Price
I say the finish is my favorite part, but it’s the price makes me almost giddy. At a suggested
$24.99 for a 750ml bottle, this blended bourbon is within reach of all consumers. The cost is
low enough that it can be used for all cocktails without fear of loss and the flavor is good enough
to be enjoyed and consumed neat.