The current American spirits landscape is littered with countless sourced whiskeys. Non-distilling producers today are highly capable of releasing exceptional products, but not long ago, it was a fair critique that NDPs were simply rebottling a lot of the same whiskey under different labels. Much of the whiskey available for the sourcing market originates from a select few big distilleries, but blending acumen still affords profile differences. It can be easy to look at an NDP as simply another bottler of MGP, Barton, or Heaven Hill. However, sourced whiskey doesn’t have to be boring or ordinary. Consumers are aware of the standard offerings from big distilleries but might not be aware of the unique mashbills and experimental projects undertaken by distilleries that often end up with barrel brokers. Gene Nassif and Iowa’s Cat’s Eye Distillery live in the realm of unique and atypical.
Nassif and Cat’s Eye have built a reputation for acquiring whiskey that isn’t particularly mainstream and creating limited bottlings that are not necessarily reproducible. Bottling under the Nassif Family Reserve and Obtainium labels, Nassif and Cat’s Eye like to work with various whiskeys that end up with brokers, but not necessarily for the profile for any big distilleries. It’s common for Nassif to get his hands on barrels that are contract distilled with unique mashbills that differ from the flagship whiskeys of the distillery of origin, and Cat’s Eye is able to feature excellent whiskey that was perhaps intended to be blended. In other instances, the the whiskey is unique in some fashion, but just doesn’t fit into a distiller’s portfolio; Cat’s Eye is happy to take it for limited releases.
Drinkhacker was kindly provided with four expressions from Cat’s Eye Distillery under the Nassif Family Reserve and Obtainium labels. Each of expressions comes from a major distillery, but all are unique and noteworthy in some fashion.
Obtainium Blended Whiskey 11 Years Old – The origin story begins with a “happy accident” in which MGP mistakenly blended white dog bourbon and rye whiskey together. The blended distillate is comprised of 75% with a mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley along with 25% from a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. The inadvertently mingled distillates were entered into barrels for at least 11 years of aging. Adding to the intrigue, it’s bottled at a cask strength of 101.1 proof.
The peculiar whiskey opens with the deep aroma of blackberry jam and burnt caramel, adding a dark, toasty sweetness. A wisp of wintergreen adds a refreshing herbal lift. As air interacts with the liquid, the scent of buttercream frosting rounds things out. The palate presents a bold kick of black pepper, promptly followed by a zesty tang of lemon peel. Traces of fennel introduces a delicate, herbal note. A gentle sweetness develops mid-palate, softening the ends and adding a floral touch. The dense mouthfeel ties everything together. The finish is warming, with a touch of black pepper that fades into the earthy spice of cloves. A whisper of black licorice arrives last, leaving a bittersweet impression that slowly dissipates.
There is everything to love about this unique expression. The bourbon and rye distillates blend together seamlessly after 11 years together in the barrel. If you’re a fan of Bourye, this is one you certainly won’t want to miss. Sourced MGP is common, but this Lawrenceburg libation is anything but. 101.1 proof. A / $85
Obtainium Bardstown Bourbon Co. 7 Years Old – Whiskey enthusiasts are familiar with Bardstown Bourbon Company‘s bourbon via the Origin and Discovery Series. However, they also produce numerous other mashbills intended for blending and brokers. Aged for 7 years, this Bardstown bourbon is the result of the familiar MGP mashbill, 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. While this mashbill has been utilized for some of the Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Fusion Series releases, Cat’s Eye offers it as a stand-alone bourbon.
The bouquet opens with the deep, molasses-like sweetness of brown sugar, accentuated by the rich, slightly smoky aroma of burnt honey. Roasted coffee beans add a nutty complexity, while a dusting of cocoa powder brings a dry, bittersweet edge to the profile. The palate kicks off with earthy black walnuts, quickly giving way to an unexpected blast of vibrant cherry Jolly Rancher sweetness. A surge of cinnamon Red Hots follows, delivering a spicy warmth. Midway through, the creaminess of vanilla bean ice cream offers balance. The mouthfeel is strikingly viscous, reminiscent off the rich texture of a pot still distillate, but this is the work of a column still. The finale is enduring with additional notes of cherry Jolly Ranchers lingering at the forefront. A touch of honey adds natural sweetness, while Big Red gum leaves a cinnamon-infused impression. 127.4 proof. A- / $65
Obtainium Light Whiskey in a Cognac Barrel – This light whiskey was distilled by MGP with a mashbill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley. After aging for 9 years in a used bourbon barrel, the whiskey was transferred to a Cognac barrel for an additional year. In total, this offering spent 1o years maturing in barrels.
The aromas open with the comforting sweetness of vanilla, layered with the dried fruit sensations of sultanas. Toffee adds a buttery depth, while a delicate floral hint of honeysuckle brings a light, airy elegance. Altogether, it feel like an elevated, natural version of a fragrance you might find bottled as a lotion at Bath & Body Works. The palate bursts with the golden sweetness of honey, soon followed by the nostalgic flavor of vanilla Tootsie Rolls. A crisp, fruity note of white grape juice enters midpalate, adding brightness that balances the sweetness. The finish is easy, with the sweetness of honey and a gentle hint of sultanas.
This light whiskey is not terribly complex, but it is highly satisfying, with the Cognac cask succeeds in adding some depth. 131.8 proof. B / $50
Nassif Family Reserve American Whiskey – Nassif Family Reserve allows Gene Nassif to display his innovative blending acumen. The blend consists of an even split of MGP rye with the 95% rye mashbill aged for 7 years, MGP 99% corn bourbon aged for 10 years, and MGP light whiskey aged for 9 years. After mingling, the blend is aged for an additional year in second-fill Armagnac casks. Nassif seeks to blend whiskies together for which there would typically be no association in order to create a highly unique product that stands out from everything else on the market.
On the nose, the blend opens with the sweetness of butterscotch and honey, eliciting memories of caramelized sugars. A delicate layer of buttercream frosting adds a creamy dimension, while the crisp, fruity brightness of red apple provides refreshing contrast. The palate unfolds with applesauce, offering a soft, spiced fruitiness that gives way to juicy black cherries. Notes of almond add a gentle nuttiness. As the flavors develop, milk chocolate arrives to coat the tongue with an oily quality. The finish lingers with dried cranberries, which fades into the sweetness of vanilla taffy. A final touch of honey leaves a warm glow on the palate. Nassif has succeeded in crafting a high-quality blend that differentiates itself from the rest of the market, while doing so at an affordable price. 109.3 proof. A- / $45
The post Review: A Trio of Obtainium Whiskeys plus Nassif Family Reserve American Whiskey appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.