BOTM 1/12: Mellow Corn BIB

[fishnbowljoe]

I know I'm late again, but I had a hard time picking something for BOTM this month. I had a few suggestions, and Mellow Corn BIB was one of them, so here it is. We're gonna kick off 2012 with Mellow Corn BIB.

My notes FWIW;

Color-very light, almost like a light corn oil. Dohhh!

Legs-Odd. :skep: What are there take their sweet time running down the glass. The odd part to me is that this whiskey seeks to really coat the inside of the glass, and stay there.

Nose-buttery corn, and some alcohol

Taste-You can taste the corn for sure, but I also get a hint of slightly bitter vanilla. The mouth feel is something else. Very rich and oily. (re:legs?) I believe the proper term is viscous. It sure stays with you for a while.

Overall impression; I'm not really sure what to make of this one. There's no doubt it's different. Not in a good way, and not in a bad way, just different. Quite drinkable, but not one I'm going to pour on a regular basis.

Happy New Year, and happy posting. :grin: Let's hear what you all have to say. Cheers! Joe

[Vosgar]

As I've told a few people, this one reminds me of going to the county fair and having an ear of roasted corn dipped in butter. I really like this whiskey and will be picking up more when I get to KY for the Sampler (unless TPS has another free shipping deal)

Gary

[mosugoji64]

While I agree that it's not an everyday pour, when the mood hits it's just right. I love the flavor of corn whiskey but the unaged ones tend to be too harsh. Mellow Corn lacks the bite and generously provides the flavor. No complexity, but what it does it does well.

[Beer&Bourbon]

I was actually talking about Mellow Corn with my wife earlier tonight. I have a few friends that love cheap booze; one gentleman is particularly enamored with corn whiskey. The only one that I've had that I can bear to drink is Mellow Corn. I think it's a pretty decent product and it's cheap enough to always have around for friends.

I haven't really written up any reviews so I'll make it my goal to get one up for this within the week.

[White Dog]

Wow, guys. Where's the love?

MC is full of citrus, oil and zip. The finish continues, and doesn't wanna leave. Lots of gusto.

As for color, Joe, you call it "very light." By what measure? This ain't a Bourbon or Rye. To me, MC looks like a 2yr old Straight Bourbon, which is crazy considering the wood in went into. How long is HH aging this?

Joe, what's the DSP on yours? Mine is the current 354, which reminds me to say that B-F makes some damn fine corn whiskey!

Simply one of the greatest under $20 American Whiskeys on the market. Stands alongside VOB, Old Ezra 7yr, and OGD, IMHO.

[tmckenzie]

One of my favorites, and when I do drink daily now, dr's orders, I have a pour of mellow corn. Well made stuff. The smell of it is exactly what a corn fermenter smells like at it's peak of fermentation. And it tastes like it smells. I have a bottle that is marked dsp 31 and it has even more corn flavor but the BF one which I have now is pretty damn good too. And you cannot argue about the price either.

[T Comp]

As I've told a few people, this one reminds me of going to the county fair and having an ear of roasted corn dipped in butter. I really like this whiskey and will be picking up more when I get to KY for the Sampler (unless TPS has another free shipping deal)

Gary

Gary, I know there is not one yet in your exact neck of the woods but Binny's, from the four I was recently in, appear to have obtained fresh stock of these in the last month. As soon as I get rid of my raging cold I will crack open one I just bought for my yay or nay contribution.

[HHBOURBONMAN]

Larry with HH here. FYI, just thought I'd let all the MC fans and astute BIB label readers know that production has been moved back to HH's Bernheim Distillery, so look for DSP KY 1 to replace 354 on the label in a few years. And thanks for the nice comments, it is still a bit of a hidden gem!

[cards81fan]

My first post - wish me luck guys and gals!

I purchased a bottle Tuesday which is perfectly timed with this BOTM thread and my account activation.

The nose smelled like buttered - almost creamed - corn (duh) and that sweet smell alcohol of ethanol gasoline but not in a bad way. Visually It struck me as lighter in color than bourbon, which makes sense as the oak was already used partially up by its first use before the Mellow Corn got to it. It has a very easy drinking flavor of corn, with some vanilla sweetness (I get similar notes from the Jack Daniels and Dickel, which also have high corn mash bills). A somewhat oily mouth feel but not so much as compared to the Weller Antique which is the most oily mouth feel of any I have tried, to my palate at least.

At 9.99 for 750mL this is a great bargain to keep on hand, and sipped easily as a nice mellow dram to finish off a workday. I think I prefer EW black label, but of course these are two different animals so it's not a direct comparison.

[fishnbowljoe]

Wow, guys. Where's the love?

As for color, Joe, you call it "very light." By what measure? This ain't a Bourbon or Rye. To me, MC looks like a 2yr old Straight Bourbon, which is crazy considering the wood in went into. How long is HH aging this?

Joe, what's the DSP on yours? Mine is the current 354, which reminds me to say that B-F makes some damn fine corn whiskey!

[dohidied]

I am so happy TPS had their free shipping deal so that I could get 3 bottles of Mellow Corn. This is definitely not an everyday pour, but when I'm in the mood I absolutely love it. It's just smooth, buttery corn with enough burn to keep me interested. It reminds me of BT White Dog, which I do like from time to time.

[Young Blacksmith]

Well, I hate to say it, but Mellow Corn gets no love from me. I tried to like it, I really did, but it's just not to my taste.

But that's OK, just more for you guys!

[cards81fan]

I also want to add that mine says distilled at DSP 354, bottled at DSP 31. Is this normal, for them to be different? I have not seen another bottle with two different numbers on it.

[Enoch]

I just did a side-by-side of my three Straight Corn Whiskeys:

Mellow Corn BIB DSP 31

Old Dispensary BIB DSP 12

J. W. Corn (not BIB but 100 proof, no DSP)

In all honesty, I cannot tell much difference between the three except maybe:

The JW Corn seems newer and "cornier"

The Old Dispensary seems "older"

The MC seems sweeter.

But then it was not a blind taste and I may have been influenced by knowing which was which.

I know Old Dispensary is a Barton Product but I wonder what the difference between MC and JWC is?

They are fun to drink on occasion.

[Tucker]

I've got a nearly empty 375ml of Mellow Corn in a hip-flask shaped bottle (DSP 31). I turn to this from time to time when I'm looking for a change from my barrel strength bourbons.

Light, sweet, oily, corny. It's all good.

Similar to when I put "Glen Campbell - The Capital Years" on the turntable after I've been listening to Disturbed on the iPod.

[Brisko]

Been meaning to post here.

I do like corn whiskey for a change of pace, and MC is a nice example. My only complaint, if I had to make one, is that it is almost too mellow. I've written elsewhere comparing this to Platte Valley (3 years old/80 proof). Platte Valley has more rough edges (which I like) but I prefer the higher proof of the Mellow Corn.

And wow, the price is definitely right. Hopefully we'll see this on the shelf in Minnesota sooner than later.

[tmckenzie]

JW corn, I am pretty sure is a variation of the HH corn line. It must be younger than MC. It does taste lighter, very scotch like I though. The other label is dixie dew. Only available in Alabama. Damn fine stuff. I would say it is the oldest of the 3.

[tmckenzie]

I think botm next month should be Georgia Moon.

[HHBOURBONMAN]

JW corn, I am pretty sure is a variation of the HH corn line. It must be younger than MC. It does taste lighter, very scotch like I though. The other label is dixie dew. Only available in Alabama. Damn fine stuff. I would say it is the oldest of the 3.

[smokinjoe]

Picked up a couple of bottles of Dixie Dew while in Alabama this week. Looking forward to comparing it with the Mellow Corn. They do look pretty similar in color.

[Brisko]

Is Georgia Moon actually any good or is it just a novelty?

[ethangsmith]

Larry with HH here. FYI, just thought I'd let all the MC fans and astute BIB label readers know that production has been moved back to HH's Bernheim Distillery, so look for DSP KY 1 to replace 354 on the label in a few years. And thanks for the nice comments, it is still a bit of a hidden gem!

[tmckenzie]

Is Georgia Moon actually any good or is it just a novelty?

[smokinjoe]

Picked up a couple of bottles of Dixie Dew while in Alabama this week. Looking forward to comparing it with the Mellow Corn. They do look pretty similar in color.

Unfortunately, I was going by memory when I posted this, as I had not returned home yet to do a comparison. The color is in fact, night and day different. The Dixie Dew (at a year younger) is significantly darker. Significantly. In comparing the two, I prefer the DD. A perfect example of "Less is More". Less oily. Less Viscous (in a good way). Less sweet. But, more edgy (in a good way). This is not to take anything away for MC, as I still enjoy it as a nice change of pace from my regular Bourbon & Rye rotation.

At the GBS meeting last night we were discussing the color disparity. It was offered that the DD may have caramel coloring? Could this be possible? Do the regs allow corn whiskey to have color added?

[tmckenzie]

It would have to be stated as having color added. I think. I always have said it was older whiskey. it is much darker and tastes different.