World Whiskey Society continues to churn out boutique, limited blends sourced from all corners of America. And while their latest release is another esoteric one, it begins with liquid from the very cornerstone of the country’s sourcing economy: Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Barrels of 20+ year-old MGP light whiskey were finished across a combination of casks that once held cognac, Tawny Port, awamori, tequila, PX sherry, and Madeira casks. The result is the market’s newest “cigar blend,” a whiskey specifically blended to pair with (and hold up against) the experience of smoking a fine cigar.
The liquid comes in a gothic-inspired, ornate bottle, complete with a gargoyle topper — one we’ve actually seen before. And unlike a lot of contemporary light whiskey releases, this one is bottled at a relatively modest proof: 48% abv. Let’s see how it tastes.
World Whiskey Society Light Whisky Cigar Blend 20 Years Old Review
The liquid has some telltale aromas of light whiskey on the nose. Almond extract meets vanilla frosting for a concentrated one-two punch that comes through a bit stronger than the abv might suggest. Pink pencil eraser, clove cigarettes, and creosote follow; it’s a relatively light and not altogether unpleasant shift away from the sweetness that can throttle the nose on MGP light whiskey that’s blended without enough regard for balance. Hot toffee and brown sugar fudge round out the scents without ever losing underpinnings of almond and eraser.
Some light whiskeys can hit the palate early with cloying confectioner’s sugar notes. (Of course, that may be due to the amount of 130+ proof MGP light whiskey distillate circulating these days.) But World Whiskey Society’s blend avoids that trap. There’s balance here, and between the restrained proof and an initial pop of dark fruit — figs, dates, and dried cherry — the flavors build gradually and mostly harmoniously from the front to middle palates. Old, funky brandy hits further back and sticks around through to the finish. It’s far less chemical than the nose, with fainter hints of charred bark, burnt green herbs, and tobacco providing a tannic backbone. Those are clear positives for a whiskey meant to pair with cigars.
The finish leans smoky and hits an intersection of sweet and savory, like barbecue sauce a few ticks past caramelization. Nutty extract continues on for a couple minutes after each sip.
96 proof.
B+ / $169 / worldwhiskey.com
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