Sure, yesterday may have been National Bourbon Day, but that was not the only reason that George Dickel has released a new Bourbon expression.
The brand, which celebrated 150 years last year, has a long tradition of Tennessee Whiskey, but when General Manager and Distiller, Nicole Austin took over three years ago, she noticed that some of the inventory had a lot more in common with Bourbon.
“Dickel Bourbon is an opportunity for us to finally share this quality liquid with the rest of the world,” she said. “I’m particularly proud that we have the kind of mature whisky inventory that can deliver an 8-year-old bourbon. As a style, bourbon is meant to be more approachable and balanced, and Dickel Bourbon is a great entry point into our whole portfolio.”
Cascade Hollow, the remote home of the George Dickel Distillery, ages its liquid in 14 warehouses, spread over more than 600 acres. While Austin was tasting the inventory to establish what bottles she had, she noticed that while most barrels contained the hallmark Tennessee whiskey flavour, there were some that presented much more of a bourbon feel, with that balanced vanilla fruit and slight spice.
This discovery has allowed the brand to give a home to those barrels that leaned into more traditional bourbon notes and did not express the Tennessee Whiskey tasting characteristics found in the rest of the George Dickel offerings. But nonetheless, like the other variants in the George Dickel portfolio, Dickel Bourbon has a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley.
Dickel Bourbon boasts sweet initial notes of vanilla leading into bright hints of cherry and orange before being balanced by almond toffee and oak. While the liquid is approachable and balanced, it does also have some complexity due to it being aged 8 years. At 90 proof, bourbon fans can best enjoy Dickel Bourbon neat or on the rocks, in addition to mixing it into some of their favourite cocktails like an Old Fashioned.
Dickel Bourbon Old Fashioned Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Dickel Bourbon
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 0.25 oz. bitters
- 1 splash water
Instructions
Muddle sugar with bitters and water and add Recipe No. 12. Shake with ice and pour into an old fashioned glass. Garnish with orange slice.
