Shelter Distilling: Small batch Blue Corn Bourbon

MSRP: $34.99

Mash: Undisclosed percentage of CA blue corn, wheat, rye, and barley

Proof: 90

Age: 1yr minimum

Nose: youthful corn and wheat, white grape, hibiscus, honey graham cereal

Palate: honey graham, wood pencil shavings, hay, a light cinnamon and nutmeg spice

Finish: medium finish of baking spice, honey, and some hay

Rating: Try it (Out of Hoard, Buy, Try, Pass)

Thoughts: This is honestly just a little too youthful as it stands. There aren't any notes that are screaming bad whiskey, it just needs more time in oak. This will still work great in a cocktail, and I'm sure will be a solid bourbon as it gets older. The finish is surprisingly good for a young and low proof whiskey, and the honey graham note feels like it will evolve into something awesome. I recently tried a 3yr old cask strength single barrel of the blue corn, and although it still had youth, it was eons ahead of this bottling profile wise. What does that mean? I think this isn't there at a year and some change. However, year after year I think this will evolve exponentially, and I can't wait to watch that growth.