Black Bourbon Cleveland Whiskey

[squire]

Cleveland Whisky, the freshest Bourbon in town!

[callmeox]

Cleveland Whisky, the freshest Bourbon in town!

Bring us some fresh bourbon! The freshest you've got...this year!

And make sure it's fresh from today's batch, none of that old stuff you have laying around in the warehouse.

His formula is as follows:

"Please sell me some barrels of bourbon."

I see a career in marketing or bullshitting for both of you.

Well done.

They also talk about it being a 4 grain product.

[HighInTheMtns]

I see a career in marketing or bullshitting for both of you.

Well done.

They also talk about it being a 4 grain product.

I guess it's "Please sell me some bourbon. I don't care what the mashbill is."

[rndenks]

Where are you getting this?

I'm thinking like you are --- it might be crap, but it's something to talk about. Could use it as an example of bad form when I preach the Bourbon Gospel to the unbelievers.

Check out their website. They have a store locator on their. My guy told me he was taking names because his supply would be limited. Might be good to call around.

[squire]

Why stop with four grains, toss in a Snickers bar and talk about it's five grain chocolaty goodness.

[cowdery]

We hear about several of these schemes every year. What has never happened is one of these guys sending samples to the top whiskey reviewers. It's never happened. Wonder why?

[HighInTheMtns]

We hear about several of these schemes every year. What has never happened is one of these guys sending samples to the top whiskey reviewers. It's never happened. Wonder why?

When they use magic instead of barrels to age it, they have no funny barrels.

[Meruck]

I had a magic Agee once. It got to old and broke.

[squire]

Chuck I suppose it's because they don't have any honey totes.

[RogerX]

The original discussion here from a couple of years ago:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?16136-Cleveland-Whiskey

...has yielded actual product. The State Liquor stores started receiving these today:

[squire]

We've been discussing this brand Roger, what can you tell us about it?

[rndenks]

Well I picked up my bottle today after work. I tried it and it tastes just like Pappy 15 if not better!!!

Just kidding but I could not resist. :slappin:

They had 17 bottles in the store and all were accounted for. They said they had another order coming in a couple of days, and half of that is accounted for already. Now to my thoughts...for what they are worth.

First, I like the bottle. Nice design. Clean and modern with a tinge of rustic on the lettering. Then again design and artwork are kind of my thing.

The Nose: not a lot of specific notes here, you know it's bourbon but I cannot sense any distinct scents

The Taste: sweet and thick, but the burn hits before I can get to much more

The finish: HOT...granted its 100 proof, but it tingles the mouth, has a sort of bitter finish, you taste oak, it really coats the mouth and lingers for a while

Added a bit of water and it did not change much.

Added a bit of ice and it opened up the nose a bit. I get a sweet creamy maybe vanilla. But the taste and finish are the same...hot, bitter and almost medicine like and boy does it linger for awhile.

Please keep in mind I am a beginner at tasting notes, but I have been able to pull a lot more out of other bourbons I tried in my short career.

At $34.95 for a 750 ml I would pass on this again. There is no way I would take this over FR1B, ERSB or Larceny for a similar or lesser price. I may try it again down the road because I feel it is a process that might evolve, but it could just as easily be a novelty. Especially for those of us in the Cleveland area.

I will try this again this weekend directly up against some other bourbons and let you know my thoughts. Would be interested to hear anyone else's thoughts. Cheers.

Edited March 6, 2013 by rndenks

[callmeox]

Thanks for the notes. It sounds like it's got young bourbon heat and oak. That's definitely an odd combo.

I think I will be able to weasel a sample soon and will post my thoughts as well.

[cowdery]

What's the 'black' part? Someone speculated that he used water with iron in it, which will turn the whiskey black, and also tastes bad.

[squire]

Back during the Carter Administration a guy came up with the idea of a peanut based whisky and almost talked some investors into funding the project. Apparently the Cleveland name carries some weight locally.

[ThirstyinOhio]

I ran out and picked up two bottles (I'm a sucker for low batch numbers and it doesn't get much lower than 001) and will be trying it out this evening. I'll post some tasting notes afterwards, but I'm not expecting a lot out of it.

[squire]

Hope you get your money's worth.

[Josh]

Bring us some fresh bourbon! The freshest you've got...this year!

For one dollar he'll guess your weight, your height, or your sex.

[MyOldKyDram]

He ran the old Cup 'o Pressure-Aged Bourbon guy out of business.

[Josh]

He ran the old Cup 'o Pressure-Aged Bourbon guy out of business.

It was never easy for him. He was born a poor black bourbon whiskey. He remembers the days, sittin' on the porch with his family, singin' and dancin' down in Ohio.

Edited March 7, 2013 by Josh

[MyOldKyDram]

You mean it's gonna STAY that color?

[Josh]

You mean it's gonna STAY that color?

Some of those restaurateurs would love it if it were the color of a baboon's ass.

[MyOldKyDram]

Don't call them restrauteurs. Call them shitheads.

[ThirstyinOhio]

I'm sitting here with my first pour of the Cleveland whiskey and I would agree with rndenks on most of his remarks.

Nose: Smells like bourbon with the standard hints of maple and vanilla but not much else.

Taste: First impression is nothing but heat. Mouth and tongue instantly start to tingle and that carries all the way through the finish. Once you get past the fire, you can really taste the wood (think EC 12) and very little sweetness. I will say that it does have a nice thick mouth feel.

Finish: Keeps on burning with some dryness and it sticks around for a while.

Overall: I would say that they nailed the wood flavor and mouth feel and I am actually surprised by that, but it still has too many characteristics of a young whiskey. I don't expect to visit this bottle very often except to give to friends who are interested in the fact it is "locally" produced.

[MyOldKyDram]

Good to see some more tasting notes on this, as opposed to more The Jerk quotes from Josh and I. If I find myself in OH soon, and see a bottle, I can't say that curiosity won't win out.