It had been about 10 years since my last visit to Chattanooga. There were new breweries and distilleries. The county changed the laws to allow a distillery to operate. I'd tried Chattanooga Whiskey during my first trip so I was eager to try their own make, since the first releases were produced by another distillery. The Chattanooga Whiskey website names Lawrenceburg Distillers of Indiana as the original producer of their expressions. I believe that is another name for MGP, which churns out some great whiskies for other companies.
This tasting was -how shall I say it? - very sterile. Unlike small group tastings or even microdistillery tastings/tours, this one was held offsite. The distillery is located on the other side of town so there were no faint hints of grain and fermentation in the air. We waited at the front of the retail store while they poured my drams. Then they led us back to the tasting room bar. Our "host" asked a few questions and then promptly left. I was not even able to ask him for a small glass for the water. I had to drip it from my finger. The bottles were everywhere on display in the room but not close enough for me to get any pics. I was not able to ask any questions. The obvious lack of interest left my wife and I disappointed and realizing that not everyone shared in our passions. The young people who worked there were doing simply that, working their jobs.
The selection for my tasting.
Chattanooga Whiskey expressions are bourbons, straight bourbons and experimental and single barrel varieties. To be called bourbon, by law in the US, the mash bill must be minimum 51% corn, be distilled at 80% ABV or less, and put into new, charred oak barrels at 125 proof or lower. To be called a Straight Bourbon Whiskey it must then be aged in said barrels for 2 years minimum.
To clear up any confusion, I will also define a Straight Whiskey, which is slightly different. This is a distillate from a mash bill not requiring 51% corn, max 95% ABV from the still and bottled to a minimum 40% ABV. It still must meet the above barrel requirements for at least two years.
To clear up any confusion, I will also define a Straight Whiskey, which is slightly different. This is a distillate from a mash bill not requiring 51% corn, max 95% ABV from the still and bottled to a minimum 40% ABV. It still must meet the above barrel requirements for at least two years.
*Chatt Whiskey Silver 50% ABV
-Smells corn! And caramel
-Tastes very peppery
-W/water smells citrusy
-Tastes very peppery w/oak
This Whiskey is a New Make meaning it is not aged for long at all. Putting it in barrels for a short time insures the Whiskey in the name is allowed.
-Smells corn! And caramel
-Tastes very peppery
-W/water smells citrusy
-Tastes very peppery w/oak
This Whiskey is a New Make meaning it is not aged for long at all. Putting it in barrels for a short time insures the Whiskey in the name is allowed.
I found this pic and for some reason I kept thinking this was not the whiskey I tried. Then I remembered not seeing the bottle at all during or after the tasting.
The pour in the picture is more generous than mine was. *Chatt Whiskey 91 46.5% ABV
Straight Bourbon Whiskey
-Smells bourbon, cotton candy, berry, light oak
-Tastes very oaky, trails oak
-W/water smells cherry cotton candy
Tastes light oak, trails quickly!
Straight Bourbon Whiskey
-Smells bourbon, cotton candy, berry, light oak
-Tastes very oaky, trails oak
-W/water smells cherry cotton candy
Tastes light oak, trails quickly!
*Chatt Whiskey 111 55.5% ABV
-Smells cherry, bourbon oak
-Tastes pepper w/ touch cookie dough
-Goes quickly to bitter oak!
-W/water smells bourbon oak
-Tastes peppery oak
Disappointing
-Smells cherry, bourbon oak
-Tastes pepper w/ touch cookie dough
-Goes quickly to bitter oak!
-W/water smells bourbon oak
-Tastes peppery oak
Disappointing
*Tawny Port Cask 47.5% ABV
Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Casks
-Smells caramel cherry and slight oak
-Tastes light wood, cookie dough
-Trails very strong oak
-W/water smells light grape/wine (tinge sour grape), sweet cherry candy
Tastes cherry scone into oak w/ very little pepper and short aftertaste of port.
Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Casks
-Smells caramel cherry and slight oak
-Tastes light wood, cookie dough
-Trails very strong oak
-W/water smells light grape/wine (tinge sour grape), sweet cherry candy
Tastes cherry scone into oak w/ very little pepper and short aftertaste of port.
A googled image, so not the actual bottle I tasted. *Batch 18 Tequila Barrel 51% ABV
Experimental Single Batch Series
Finished in Extra Anejo Tequila Barrels
-Smells sweet lemon bar w/touch of oak
-Tastes light citrusy with bitter oak
-W/water smells lemon dish soap
-Tastes light oak, light pepper, something floral
Trails bitter oak!
The pictured whiskey is probably not what I actually tasted. I would like to have been able to see the same label for my dram.
Experimental Single Batch Series
Finished in Extra Anejo Tequila Barrels
-Smells sweet lemon bar w/touch of oak
-Tastes light citrusy with bitter oak
-W/water smells lemon dish soap
-Tastes light oak, light pepper, something floral
Trails bitter oak!
The pictured whiskey is probably not what I actually tasted. I would like to have been able to see the same label for my dram.
The 91 and the 111 play into the 'more alcohol the better' mentality. Since most drink their whiskey over ice or in shots......
I was impressed with both the nose and taste of the Port Cask and Tequila. The Silver was unremarkable. I'm glad to have tasted their recent expressions and helped, in small part, to support a new distillery in Tennessee.
I was impressed with both the nose and taste of the Port Cask and Tequila. The Silver was unremarkable. I'm glad to have tasted their recent expressions and helped, in small part, to support a new distillery in Tennessee.
The originals.
*Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Reserve 45% ABV
-smelled bourbon w/tinge of floral
-tasted like watered down bourbon
-w/water smelled sour going quickly to bourbon
-trailed oaky w/touch of smoke
*Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Cask 56.8% ABV
-smelled sweeter than the Reserve
-much stronger alcohol smell w/tinge of vinegar
-tasted peppery on the tongue w/spicy alcohol
-w/water smelled bourbon and oak, floral
-slightly oaky
These are notes from a 2012 tasting. I preferred the Cask with a little water.
-smelled bourbon w/tinge of floral
-tasted like watered down bourbon
-w/water smelled sour going quickly to bourbon
-trailed oaky w/touch of smoke
*Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Cask 56.8% ABV
-smelled sweeter than the Reserve
-much stronger alcohol smell w/tinge of vinegar
-tasted peppery on the tongue w/spicy alcohol
-w/water smelled bourbon and oak, floral
-slightly oaky
These are notes from a 2012 tasting. I preferred the Cask with a little water.
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