A little background
Union Horse Distilling Company is located in Kansas City, Missouri. I personally think the location is great, as my father used to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. Their Rolling Standard Whiskey is a four-grain whiskey, meaning it uses four types of grains in the mashbill to create it. For this particular blend, the distillery used corn, rye, wheat, and barley. The Rolling Standard sits at 92 proof and is non-chill filtered. While it does not have an age statement, it is aged for no less than 18 months. You can buy Rolling Standard whiskey for around $35.
(Tasted neat from a Halo glass)
Color
Yellow Gold
Nose
A pleasant aroma of light maple syrup is at the forefront of the nose. Backing it up are scents of white corn, dill, and rye spice. Touches of white fruit come in at the end to tie everything up. The nose is fairly complex considering its age, and it very pleasing.
Palate
Light maple syrup and vanilla give the front of a nice, sweet sensation. The mouthfeel is thicker than what one would expect from a 92 proof whiskey, likely due to the non-chill filtration. On the mid-palate, juniper berries, pine needles, and black pepper appear in a very pleasant manner. It makes me feel like I should be drinking it in front of a fire and a fresh Christmas tree.
Finish
The whiskey has a medium finish which contains the sweetness from the maple syrup note and the acidity from the juniper and pine notes. They come together nicely and balance each other out. The end of the finish is very oaky.
In conclusion
I thought this was a great take on a four grain whiskey. The complexity was fantastic and the mid-palate really gave me something that I do not normally find in whiskey. The juniper and pine notes are something that remind me of Christmas. This is something I would love to drink by the fire and Christmas tree. An added bonus is that it is great value for its price. The only thing that I would love to see is a higher proof. I think that could really elevate the whiskey. That being said, I enjoyed this whiskey more than I enjoy most other whiskies around this given proof. I think Union Horse did a phenomenal job with this whiskey!
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Union Horse. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review this whiskey!
Union Horse Rolling Standard Four Grain Whiskey, Batch 5
92 Proof
7.7
The Good
- Complexity
- Unique Flavor
- Value
The Bad
- Proof
