Ranger Creek .36 Texas Bourbon Review
By Jake Emen
Rating: A-
(Credit: Jake Emen)
You don’t mess with Texas. But can you mess with Texas bourbon? Considering that Ranger Creek .36 Texas Bourbon Whiskey is named for a revolver – the .36 caliber pistol that Texas Rangers toted around the frontier – maybe we had best not. Nevertheless, we’ll give it a shot, and assume for our purposes that we won’t actually get shot in the process. When it is released, the Ranger Creek big barrel straight bourbon whiskey will actually at its core be the same exact bourbon, just aged for a longer period of time.
The Bourbon
Ranger Creek .36 is the 2011 release of the Ranger Creek Small Caliber Series (SCS). The SCS is all about craftiness — small barrel maturation, limited distribution, hand-labeling and the incorporation of hopefully unique and innovative flavors or processes. The small barrel part is currently a popular experiment among many bourbon-makers, and is typically seen as a way to speed up the aging process. Ranger Creek plans to release a more traditional big barrel straight bourbon whiskey as its standard label, which at its core will be the same whiskey, but aged for longer and in a more typical size of charred, new oak barrel.
Ranger Creek .36 utilizes local ingredients, adding to the score on its two big points: this is craft, and this is Texas. I obtained Bottle #1,082 from Batch 8, summer 2011, aged for 9 months “under the Texas sun” with a 48% alcohol content by volume (96 proof). If you thought bourbon came only from the Bluegrass, or didn’t think your bourbon could be made with “attitude,” a bottle of Ranger Creek .36 is here to tell you otherwise. again, considering its etymology, you may not want to argue too emphatically here.
My immediate thought upon my first sip is that this bourbon isn’t shy. It comes and bites you a bit, with a strong, bold initial blast of flavor. It’s not a ragged burn, though, there’s an overarching sweetness to those big flavors.
Ranger Creek is even sweeter on the nose, offering hints of brown sugar and caramel. It’s balanced by a spicy taste and finish, dotted with cinnamon and pepper.
From start to finish, it really is quite pleasant, and I could easily envision many a chilly autumn or frigid winter evening being warmed up with a glass of Ranger Creek. I enjoyed it, I would have it again, and I’ll look forward to future SCS releases, as well as the full big barrel release.
The Price
Produced in San Antonio, TX, Ranger Creek is available for purchase from local retailers and bars throughout that grand ol’ state, from San Anton to Dallas and Houston. Suggested retail is $34.99 for a 375 ml bottle. Next up in the SCS, the 2012 release will become available this fall. The big barrel Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey will be available in 2013-2014.
I think you’re crazy to give this an A-.
Green wood on the nose and finish. Characteristic of small barrels and young age. It may have potential with its palate of spice but it is no where near an A-. More like a C+. Small barrels just don’t work.
Some people feel the same way about Jake’s opinion of Defiant as well.
Agreed. I bought this on a whim after reading this skimming the review. I have no hang ups with small barrel, rapid aged whiskey (I love almost everything Corsair produces), but this one was a total let down. I’ll revisit it in a few weeks, but this will likely end up as a mixer.
I normally drink Elijah Craig. My son bought some ranger .36 on a whim. The taste of wood dominated. It was surprisingly smooth, but I felt as if I was sucking on a stick.
So then it’s not really a true bourbon then right? If it’s not aged for 4 years minimum in New chared white oak barrels then it’s just a whiskey. Or maybe I’m confused on the distinction. Just seems odd them using the bourbon designation.
Four years is the minimum age requirement for a Bottled in Bond whiskey. Two years is the minimum for straight whiskey. There is no statutory minimum age for bourbon generally. So long as you put it in a charred, new oak barrel, technically it is bourbon. It could be for just a minute if one chose to do that.
I agreed with the review and cannot add to it. I’m having it for the first time right now and it is very good. It’s a little different than my usual fare of Noah’s and Russells Reserve, but different is still quite good and tasty!