I finally got the practical a container with this olde raleigh bourbon review , plus I say, the particular packaging alone will be enough to create you stop plus stare. Most associated with the time, when a distillery puts this much hard work into a fancy decanter-style bottle, We get a little anxious. Sometimes the glass can there be to discompose you from what's inside. But Olde Raleigh, coming away of a little town called Zebulon in North Carolina, has been producing some serious dunes in the whiskey community lately.
If a person haven't heard of all of them, they aren't specifically "new" anymore, but they've stayed below the radar just enough that finding the bottle still feels like a gain. They take an alternative approach than your standard "we unadulterated this in a barn last Tuesday" craft start-up. Instead, they focus intensely around the art of blending, and it shows.
The Story Behind the Bottle
Prior to we dive in to the liquid, we should talk about what this particular actually is. Brandon McCraney, the guy at the rear of Olde Raleigh, is definitely a master blender at heart. Whilst they are distilling their very own stuff right now, their flagship releases—the ones getting all the attention—are "Batch Blended. " This means they are usually sourcing high-quality aged barrels and mixing these a degree of precision that you usually only see from the particular big heritage distilleries in Kentucky.
The distillery by itself is in Zebulon, which is just outdoors of Raleigh. It's a cool place, very industrial-chic, but the focus is clearly on the wooden and the rum. They use the lot of various finishes and fascinating mash bills to create something that doesn't just taste such as another "sourced" bourbon.
Household: The Look and Sense
Let's end up being real—the bottle is stunning. It's a heavy, square decanter with a massive wooden stopper. It feels costly. Seems like some thing you'd see on a high-end bar cart in the 60s office. But as we all understand, you can't consume the glass.
When you pour it, the color is the rich, deep amber. It looks oily and viscous in the glass, which usually is always a good sign for myself. It suggests they haven't filtered the particular soul out associated with the whiskey. This particular olde raleigh bourbon review focuses on their signature Set Blend, which generally clocks in about 90 to a hundred proof depending on the specific release.
The Nasal area: What Are All of us Smelling?
As soon as I brought the glass up, I didn't get that harsh ethanol sting you sometimes find with younger craft blends. It's remarkably calm. The first issue that hit me was a big wave of toasted oak and brown glucose . It scents "darker" than I actually expected.
There's a clear be aware of vanilla bean—not the fake draw out kind, but the particular real, earthy pods. After letting it sit down for a minute or two, some fruit started to peek through. We got some dried cherry and maybe several apricot. It's a complex nose that will keeps you coming back to observe what else a person can find. It's inviting, and it definitely sets higher expectations for the particular first sip.
The Palate: The Best Part
This is where the "Batch Blended" magic actually happens. The mouthfeel will be the first thing I noticed. It's creamy and covering. You know that will thin, watery experiencing some bourbons have got? This is actually the opposite associated with that.
The flavor begins off with a hit of caramel and honey sweetness , but it quickly transitions into something even more robust. There's the spice kick—think cinnamon and maybe some black pepper—that balances out the sweetness perfectly.
What I really enjoy about this bourbon is the depth. You are able to tell there's some well-aged fruit juice in the mix. There are these secondary notes of leather and tobacco that give it a good "old soul" character. It doesn't taste "young. " This doesn't have that will grainy, corn-forward flavor that plagues a lot of newer distilleries. This tastes like someone that actually loves bourbon spent a lot of time getting the ratios just right.
The Finish: Does It Remain?
A good bourbon should stay with you regarding a while, plus Olde Raleigh doesn't disappoint here. The particular finish is medium-to-long and very warming. The sweetness ends into a great, dry oakiness that will leaves your mouth watering for another sip. I noticed the lingering hint of dark chocolate plus orange peel right at the final.
It's a "hug" of a bourbon. It's not intense, but it definitely makes its existence known. I didn't find myself needing a drop associated with water to open up it up, but if you're sensitive in order to spice, a single large ice cube would probably turn this into a dessert-like experience.
Will be It Worth the particular Price?
Let's talk numbers. Olde Raleigh usually rests in the $80 to $100 range based on where a person find it. In the world of bourbon, that's the competitive bracket. You're competing with large hitters like Rare Breed, various Barrell Craft Spirits produces, and some associated with the higher-end toasted finishes from large brands.
Will be it worth nearly a hundred dollars? Honestly, yes .
Here is definitely why: you're paying for the blending knowledge and the small-batch nature of the product. This isn't a mass-produced container where every set is identical and made by the millions. There's a good artisanal quality into it that you may actually taste. Plus, once the whiskey is gone, a person obviously have a stunning decanter that you can recycle for your "infinity bottle" or simply as a water carafe if you want to be extravagant.
How in order to Drink It
While I'm a firm believer that you need to drink your rum however you like it, I'd suggest beginning with this 1 neat. The mixing is so intentional that you actually want to flavor the layers before you begin diluting them.
If you're someone who loves cocktails, an Old Fashioned constructed with Olde Raleigh would be top-tier. The baking essence notes in the bourbon would play extremely well with fragrant bitters and an orange twist. But again, at this price, I'd mostly stick to sipping it slow on the Friday night.
Final Thoughts on Olde Raleigh
Achieving this olde raleigh bourbon review reminded me why I love the current state of the whiskey globe. Yeah, there's a lot of hype and a lot of overpriced containers out there, but from time to time, you discover a gem such as this.
Olde Raleigh isn't trying to pretend they've been around since 1850. They're being transparent about their process and focusing on high quality over everything otherwise. The result is a bourbon that feels premium, tastes complex, and looks great upon a shelf.
Pros:
- Incredible mouthfeel: Heavy, oily, and rewarding.
- Organic flavor profile: Moves from sweet to spicy to earthy.
- The Container: One particular of the greatest looking bottles within the game best now.
- North Carolina Satisfaction: It's great to notice a non-Kentucky distillery hitting these levels.
Cons:
- Availability: It may still be a little bit difficult to find if you aren't in the Southeast.
- Price: $80+ is an investment for many casual drinkers.
If you see a bottle of Olde Raleigh sitting upon the shelf plus you're looking in order to treat yourself to some thing that isn't the "usual suspect, " I'd say move for it. It's a classy pour that rewards you for taking your time and energy with it. Brandon and the team in Zebulon clearly know what they're doing, and I'm personally thrilled to see how their particular house-distilled spirits evolve alongside these amazing blends.
Cheers to the NORTH CAROLINA whiskey scene—it's certainly having a second, and Olde Raleigh is leading the particular charge.