Happenstance Whiskey is a 100% women-owned & led whiskey firm in Nashville, Tennessee, began in 2021 by an Anheuser-Busch alumna. The operation focuses completely on sourced bourbons, together with a mainline launch and a pair of single barrel bottlings.
We tasted each the full-time Founder’s Version and one in every of its single barrels — with particulars and tasting notes to comply with.
Happenstance Straight Bourbon Founder’s Version Evaluate
A bottling of 4 yr previous distillate from Indiana, billed as a “cabernet-style” bourbon, meant to be full-bodied and candy. Although simply 4 years of age, this whiskey noses with a formidable maturity, touched with milk chocolate and vanilla, rounding out overtones of hazelnuts and a few well-roasted peanuts within the shell. The nostril does certainly connote a full physique, with light layers of graphite and turned earth, hints of anise and toasted coconut rounding out the aromatics.
On the palate, the whiskey does smolder a bit, combining butterscotch and creamy peanut butter with layers of toasted coconut and milk chocolate. A Graham cracker form of sweetness perks up the midpalate, the end taking over a latent, mild fruitiness, nearly winey with notes of strawberry and cherry. (If any a part of this whiskey might be thought of delicate, that is it.) Extra coconut and a lightweight cola word linger on the end. Fairly strong. 90 proof. A- / $50
Happenstance Single Barrel Bourbon 9 Years Previous Evaluate
A very totally different whiskey, 9 yr previous Kentucky distillate, pulled from a single barrel. There’s no telling whether or not you’ll get what we reviewed — the web site lists two barrels obtainable, neither of which aligns with the coding on our pattern — however let’s evaluation what now we have.
This whiskey is extraordinarily spicy, pushed on the nostril by notes of black and crimson pepper, recent inexperienced herbs, and mint. Menthol cigarettes are a transparent fragrant affect, with notes of vanilla and lemon balm lingering beneath. The herbaceousness of the nostril is hard to totally get your arms round, however tobacco is a continuing.
The palate is sort of candy and fruity, raisins main rapidly to brown sugar syrup, laced with baking spice. There’s numerous cloves right here, alongside some bittersweet chocolate. Nonetheless it isn’t lengthy earlier than that menthol tobacco word returns to focus, a robust eucalyptus character all however dominating the late recreation of the physique. All of this melds properly with brown butter, a touch of oiled leather-based (extra Lexus than horse saddle), and a twist of citrus — although the end invariably rolls again, reminding me a bit too clearly of cough drops. Throat feels nice, although. 110 proof. Reviewed: Barrel #15781. B+ / $90
Happenstance Straight Bourbon Founder’s Version
USD50
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