Tasting Notes

Producing WhiskyCast has given me the opportunity to taste some really amazing whiskies, and I’m pleased to share my tasting notes with you here. You can search my entire database of tasting notes from this page, and I hope you’ll find it useful.

Rock Town Arkansas Rice Straight Bourbon

Country: USA

Region: Arkansas

Type: Bourbon

Bottler: Distiller

ABV: 46%

Score: 91 Points

Rock Town Arkansas Rice Bourbon. Photo ©2021, Mark Gillespie/CaskStrength Media.Most people don’t know that Arkansas has a thriving rice industry, and Rock Town Distillery founder Phil Brandon decided to see what he could do with locally-grown rice in this Bourbon. The mashbill is 54% corn, 36% Arkansas rice, and 10% malted barley, and the whiskey was matured for two years. The nose is warm and well-balanced with notes of toasted bread, Rice Krispies treats, marshmallow, honey, and a hint of caramel. The taste has touches of linseed oil, chili powder, and lemon zest that provide a spicy and tart flavor at first, while touches of anise, caramel, and vanilla come on slowly as the initial tartness starts to fade. The finish is medium-length with a lingering balance of tartness and touches of anise and caramel. A creative approach that led to a unique whiskey! (January, 2021)