Mississippi River Distilling LeClaire, IA

[Jono]

Another new micro distillery that started with a vodka and now intends to

produce a "bourbon"....not a "straight bourbon" however:

http://mrdistilling.com/blog/?p=724

"The bourbon will be aged less than one year. Not a typical approach for most distillers."

“We’re taking a similar approach to our bourbon. We want it to taste more like the sweet grain than just what comes from the walls of the barrel.”

“If you like our vodka, I think you’ll love this bourbon.”

Well that is probably a truer statement than he realizes. However, they are using smaller 30 gallon barrels, but it will still be a young whiskey.

Their vodka ranks pretty well:

http://www.thefiftybest.com/spirits/domestic_vodka/

A lot of flavors described for such "neutral" spirits

River Baron vodka...silver medal.

When Obama stayed at the BlackHawk Hotel:

“We were approached over the weekend by management from Hotel Blackhawk about getting some River Baron for the President.” Said owner and distiller Ryan Burchett. “We were told his favorite cocktail is a vodka sour. So of course we were thrilled to introduce him to the River Baron!”

[tmckenzie]

I do not think I would have given Obama one damn drop.

[the Duff]

I do not think I would have given Obama one damn drop.

Why not? There vodka is repulsive! Its all over the place in the QC. Can't wait till someone poors me this bourbon thinking that there giving me some special treat.

[ILLfarmboy]

“If you like our vodka, I think you’ll love this bourbon.â€

:cool: :cool:

Meaning, if you like our water you'll love our coffee, 'cause it tasts darn near like our water??:cool:

[tmckenzie]

Well, if it is that bad, then give him enough to make him feel right at home. Put sugar in it if you have to.

[White Dog]

I do not think I would have given Obama one damn drop.

I'm sorry, but did I just drift over to the PR&C?:skep:

[tmckenzie]

Sorry, just could not resist.

[Jono]

I certainly wish them success in their endeavour, however, I hope they set aside stock for proper aging.

[IowaJeff]

It looks like their bourbon is out.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/12/05/whiskey-plans-for-cody-road-bourbon-templeton-rye/

http://mrdistilling.com/frame/products_bourbon.shtml

Looks like a wheat recipe 90 proofer. One year old, aged in 'small barrels.'

Sounds like they are doing craft distilling the right way (or at least the way I like to see it) - distilling themselves with locally sourced ingredients. They even name the farmers who source the grains on their website. I don't think I'll try to buy a bottle, but hopefully I can procure a taste of it somewhere. I'll withhold final judgment until I taste it, but I'll tentatively agree with the hope that they have a plan for more aging.

[Bourbon Boiler]

"Bottled at 90 proof, this bourbon has a distinctive aroma with enough kick to know it's bourbon, but with a beautifully smooth finish."

Doesn't sound like it's being marketed at us. I have no problem with micros doing this. It bothers me when they pretend they're making a product for the bourbon expert, but produce an underaged, boring release.

[cowdery]

It's probably very young, as they don't give an age. They apparently made very little, as it is already sold out. They claim to have used small barrels. They don't say how small, but they're passing along all of the usual small barrel myths. They like to imagine some of the wood was grown in Iowa and Illinois, their markets, but it's very unlikely any of it was. Probably it was all grown in Minnesota.

So, yeah, it's more marketing fluff targeted at novices than honest information targeted at serious enthusiasts.

[IowaJeff]

I agree that it's targeted more towards locals and novices than enthusiasts. I thought they were at least a lot more transparent than, ahem, certain other Iowa-based whiskey companies. Its a year old or slightly less. They give the percentages of ingredients and the locations, and even the farmers, from whom the ingredients were sourced. That some of the oak is harvested in Iowa and Illinois may be a half-truth, but in the whiskey industry that barely registers on the puffery scale.

I've tried enough underaged 'small barrel' whiskeys to know that this is probably not my bag, but I thought it was cool that a product targeted for a particular area is actually made in that area and from mostly area-ingredients. I don't have a problem with independent bottlers, in fact I think they serve an important function and push some quality products into the market, but when they make a bunch of 'locally made' claims it bothers me.

I'm hoping a few of the regional distilleries that actually make something and some with local ingredients can survive and down the road produce a product more focused on flavor. We'll see though, I'm not holding my breath.

[cowdery]

You're right and I agree. Just pointing out where they could do better.

Let's hope that "more honest than Templeton" doesn't become the standard, as that's a pretty low bar.

[IowaJeff]

You're right and I agree. Just pointing out where they could do better.

Let's hope that "more honest than Templeton" doesn't become the standard, as that's a pretty low bar.

That is indeed a low bar. They've made some letharic efforts to be less deceptive recently, but once you've built a reputation on falsities the bell can't be unrung for me.

People have been asking me where to get TR for Christmas gifts and I tell them to just get Bulleit. I've tasted them head to head and its close, but I I prefer the Bulleit. Could just be the higher proof. Put $10 of savings in my pocket and its not even close.

[cowdery]

I have to give Templeton credit. They're selling the stuff. According to their newsletter, they were the #1 best selling distilled spirit product in Iowa for the month of October, at 4,100 cases.

Which shows that a product does need a good story to be successful, and sadly the story does not have to be true.