Redemption 9-Year Barrel-Proof Bourbon Review
Indiana isn’t the first name that springs to mind when it comes to American bourbon whiskey, but as this Redemption 9-Year Barrel-Proof Bourbon review shows, it ought to be.
In fact, many of the more famous Kentucky bourbons are made with grain from Indiana. Louisville itself stands on the banks of the Ohio River, with Indiana visible on the other side. For some Kentucky distilleries, grain from Indiana is far more local for them than the nearest grain fields in Kentucky. It’s a topic Rob Arnold discusses in his fascinating book, The Terroir of Whiskey.
Delve back into US history, and rye whiskey was originally the country’s most popular spirit, and a lot of that rye was grown in Indiana, not in Kentucky. Even today, most Kentucky rye whiskey is made with rye that’s not from Kentucky but from Canada, Europe… and Indiana.
Kentucky Rye Whiskey… from Indiana
About 100 miles northeast of Louisville and also on the banks of the Ohio River is Lawrenceburg, home to the MGP Distillery, founded in 1847. The MGP stands for Midwest Grain Products, and whisper it lightly but some famous Kentucky rye whiskies, like Bulleit Rye and George Dickel Rye, actually originate in this Indiana distillery. However, you could easily throw a bottle of rye whiskey from Indiana and land it in Kentucky, as the border is in the river.
MGP was Whisky Advocate’s 2015 Distiller of the Year and one of its own brands of whiskey is Redemption Rye Whiskey, specializing not in mass production but in small batch distilling. Redemption makes a range of whiskies, which I’m going to be slowly working my way through, including a High Rye, a Wheated Bourbon, a couple of 10-year barrel-proof ryes, and this Redemption 9-Year Barrel-Proof Bourbon.
Redemption 9-Year Barrel-Proof Bourbon Review
To qualify as bourbon a spirit must have at least 51% corn, and many distillers stick to that low percentage. This bourbon, however, is 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. It’s 54.1% ABV and has been aged for nine years in new charred oak barrels.
And, by the way, that Kentucky bourbon you’re so fond of, that was distilled in Indiana from Indiana rye was probably also aged in a barrel made of oak from Indiana. (Hmm, I wonder where the bottles are made?)
The bottle is solid and chunky, and manages to look both retro and modern at the same time. The bourbon is a beautiful golden amber color and on the nose is an immediately pleasing and heady mix of aromas, with vanilla sweetness, a rich burnt caramel smell, some spiciness, and equally rich coffee notes.
On the palate the whiskey is equally delightful. It’s rich, smooth, and sweet, and despite its high ABV it’s very sippable. The vanilla and caramel are still there, with pepper and other spices, and a pleasing contrast between maple syrup and meatiness – the distillery’s own tasting notes say one of the signature flavors of this bourbon is bacon. Ah, but is it Kentucky bacon or Indiana bacon?
We sampled this bourbon on New Year’s Eve, as we wanted something a little special to say goodbye to 2020. Something drew me to this bottle, and I’m glad that it did.
Redemption 9-Year Barrel-Proof Bourbon Review: More Information
You can find out more on the Redemption Rye Whiskey website. It has a suggested retail price of $99.99 and you can find it in many places including Caskers. You can also find several of the Redemption range of whiskies at Master of Malt.
