The John Wayne-inspired Duke spirits model received its begin again in 2015, full with a stylized portrait of the person on the label, simply so that you didn’t get confused about which Duke they have been speaking about.
Since then, the Duke lineup has expanded from a single bourbon to extra American whiskeys in addition to tequila, at which certainly John Wayne wouldn’t have turned his nostril up. Just lately, Duke rebranded a bit, altering up its bottles and labels — and shedding the Wayne portraiture (a small picture is now on the reverse) in favor of a extra understanded signature. Formally, the bottles now say “Legendary Duke” throughout the highest. A band beneath consists of the bottling yr (2022 on this pattern), a brand new age assertion (5 years), a signature from Ethan Wayne, and the initials of the blender of the whiskey (EVR?). It can be revealed that the whiskey is sourced from Inexperienced River/O.Z. Tyler, answering one more thriller in regards to the origins of the model.
With that stated, let’s style a recent pattern of Duke Bourbon, launched in late 2023 (although, as famous, bottled someday in 2022).
When you’ve had different O.Z. Tyler releases, you received’t discover a entire lot of surprises in retailer, for higher or worse. Creamy notes of peanut, touched with the total spray of baking spices, instantly kick issues off. Baked apples with brown sugar are evident, alongside a light however insistent ethanol character that dulls issues a bit. Not practically as a lot lumberyard as I famous in 2015; it’s actually not “woody” in any respect, with solely the faintest trace of the barrel hitting the nostril.
On the palate, peanuts and popcorn first stand up, adopted by one other serving to of baking spice and a major dose of brown sugar. It is a candy whiskey, reminding me of Cracker Jack (which I famous in ’15), and following up with apricot, dates, milk chocolate, and a few mint. Darker, toasty chocolate on the end, touched with cinnamon and vanilla, notably with mellowing time in glass. All in all, it’s nonetheless a stable whiskey that stands as one of many best possible self-importance initiatives within the booze enterprise in the present day.
Ya received that, pilgrim?
88 proof.
A- / $40 / dukespirits.com [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]
Duke Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2023)
$40
