Review: Clayton Distillery New York Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Batch 16.16 Barrel #3)

Color (5%): Lovely rich honey 4/5

Nose (10%): Very, very oaky. A bit overaged, or barrels too small. There's a little of that corn/honey sweetness. Faint maltiness. 5/10

Palate (20%): Not bad, very low sweetness on the front of the palate. Holding it on the tongue gives a bit of that stinging corn sharpness. That is my preference, but I find whiskeys have an innate sharpness. For bourbon, it is very rounded and clean. It's simple, but it's good. 15/20

Finish (10%): a little chocolate milk ball finish. Whoppers, or whatever brand of malt you prefer. It is not a heavy alcohol burn for 46%, well distilled. Medium duration. 8/10

Overall Impression and Harmony (30%): It's a fine whiskey. I wouldn't call it that unique or top-tier. It's generic with a little extra-aged character. It was well made and balanced, but nothing inventive. Does the job. 24/30

Retry on Ice (25%): Chocolate maltiness pops more. A little bit of rye spice starts to come out. There are light notes of cassia bark (mild cinnamon), and it is neat to see it open up. I'm going to try this equal parts with just water to see if some nuance is lost when this is drunk at full proof. Nope, it's not the dilution; it's the temperature. 18/25

Total Ranking: 74% Legendary, Amazing, Great, Good, Fair, Average, Tolerable, Swill

Estimated Fair Price: $37 per 750ml

Actual Price: ~$50 depending on market

Conclusion: You're paying for this whiskey's story and small-batch craft. The farm where this is made and the crops are grown is picturesque and was even featured on Martha Stewart Wedding in 2013, an odd accolade to feature on your website. If you are around the Thousand Islands, please check out their facility, but I would only buy a dram of this if I were in the area. Of course, you should support local and small businesses, but you don't need to buy a case of this. Maybe another batch or another barrel. Or try some of their other spirits. The distillery offers a lovely selection of vodka, moonshine, liqueurs, and gin. This particular whiskey falls flat for the price.

Fact Sheet:

Distillery Location: Thousand Islands, New York

ABV: 46% ABV, 92 proof

Age Statement: Aged 3 years.

Ingredients: Estate-grown corn, malted barley, wheat and/or rye

Method: Double pot stilled. Bottled one barrel at a time.