Ohio craft distiller Echo Spirits is expanding its experimental Engineer Series with a new double-oaked bourbon that is reminiscent of the classic hiking snack, trail mix.

The Columbus-based distillery has released Engineer Series Batch 25A – Trail Mix, marking an evolution in their bourbon blending program. The release combines two identical Kentucky-sourced whiskeys, one of which is elevated by a double-oak barrel process.

Innovation Through Blending

Echo Spirits founders, Joe Bidinger and Nikhil Sharoff, both had previous careers in engineering before turning their attention to bourbon production. The two see bourbon as an opportunity to experiment, blending different whiskeys together to create unique releases. 

“The Engineer Series came from our desire to innovate constantly and try to surprise people,” says Joe Bidinger, co-founder of Echo Spirits. “While our own whiskeys age, we don’t want to blindly dump barrels together and label them our own. It’s important to us to remain transparent about where our whiskey is coming from while creating something new and unique each time.

“We try to treat individual whiskey barrels like ingredients in a dish. And we love to use different ingredients each time.”

For Echo Spirits, the tasting notes help people imagine how a bottle fits into their experiences, like enjoying a cigar or a dessert.

Echo Spirits Engineer Series Batch 25A -Trail Mix

The new release features two five-year-old bourbon expressions from Bardstown Bourbon Company, both sharing a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. What sets this batch apart is Echo Spirits’ decision to double-oak one portion of the blend.

Co-founder Nikhil Sharoff explains their approach to the additional aging process: “The double oak process, for us, reflects the creative expansion of the Engineer Series. We believe that low-char, heavy toast New American oak truly provides Trail Mix with a distinctive taste profile.”

The team aged one portion of the bourbon for an additional 13 months in low-char, heavy toast New American oak barrels from Speyside cooperage, creating a unique flavor profile that mirrors its namesake snack.

Engineer Series Batch 25A Trail Mix is bottled at 113 proof and carries a five-year age statement. The release is limited to 357 bottles, available at the distillery and through distribution channels for $52.95, with nationwide shipping options available at $59.99.

The bourbon offers a complex flavor profile featuring notes of honey-roasted peanuts, dried fruits, and dark chocolate, living up to its trail mix inspiration while showcasing the impact of the double-oak process.

Read the full article at Ohio’s Echo Spirits Debuts Double-Oaked Trail Mix Bourbon