Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey

Hudson Baby Bourbon is 100% corn pot-still whiskey distilled in New York using New York corn. It is aged in charred new american oak barrels, for “under 4 yrs”. Although the product page doesn’t mention it, a little googling tells me that this whiskey is aged in very small 2-3 gallon barrels with loud music playing to “agitate” the whiskey further. This unique aging process exposes the whiskey to a lot of barrel in its shorter aging process. It is 92 proof, and around here sells for around $50.

I poured this glass then let it sit for like 20 minutes while I took pictures of it, so this review is based on whiskey that has had a minute to breath. First sniff is caramel apple scented, then an almost cidery apple scent comes through. After smelling this for a minute I’m now craving mulled cider and a bonfire, so that’s how this is going tonight. Once you really get your nose in there the alcohol hits along with some oak. The oak is a lot more prevalent upon first sip, which is rich with oak and vanilla, and a bit spicier than I expected. The spice dies down quickly leaving behind a hint of warmth, popcorn flavor, and wood - lots of wood. Overall it is a nice enough whiskey, smooth enough to drink neat and pleasant enough to order at a bar, without being exceptionally complex. I like that its local to me, and it is certainly unique, but I don’t like it so much that it would become a regular sip for me.