A little background

12 Point Bourbon is the first aged release from Droptine Spirits. Aged first in charred oak casks, the whiskey is then transferred to brandy casks and aged in California, “in the salt air of the Pacific”. While I’m not positive on the impact of the salt air, the impact of the brandy barrels is evident in this pour. Droptine Spirits 12 Point Bourbon is bottled at 92 proof and has an MSRP of $55.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Straw

Nose

Corn and white grapes leap from the glass at first. New make bourbon is the closest thing that comes to mind, with some fruits mixed in. Eventually french vanilla and raisins rise to meet the nose, although they take a bit of time to appear.

Palate

The salt air of California appears to have had an impact after all. Notes of salted caramel and a touch of cocoa settle in the mid-palate after a moment. The fruit has all but disappeared, being replaced by richer, sweeter notes.

Finish

The finish starts with cocoa and slowly adds a dry, oaky almond note that crawls from the corners of the tongue all the way up to the mid-palate. Additionally, the corny note returns early in the finish, but fades after a few breaths, while the salted caramel remains.

In closing

This pour has some interesting things going for it-especially the salted caramel on the palate. However, this pour also has a few drawbacks-especially the youthfulness that is evident on the nose. Assuming more age would serve to enhance the strengths of this pour, I think some more age would make for whiskey that is much more appealing. Unfortunately, the tasty profile on the palate fail to overcome the “new make” profile that dominates the nose and the palate. With that said, I think the folks at Droptine seem to be on the right track, but some patience is necessary for this whiskey to reach its full potential. I’m glad I had a chance to try it, but given the $55 price tag, I think I’ll wait for later releases before I pick up a bottle.