East Coast Bourbons Beyond the Bluegrass

East Coast Bourbons Beyond the Bluegrass

When thinking of bourbon, Kentucky often comes to mind. However, the East Coast offers some exceptional bourbons worth exploring. These spirits are crafted with unique local ingredients and innovative techniques, resulting in diverse flavors. Let's dive into some standout bourbons from the East Coast that aren't from Kentucky.

Widow Jane 10 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Widow Jane, a hyper-small-batch Brooklyn-based distillery, is dedicated to reviving the art of blending by marrying the finest and rarest bourbons from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana in exclusive five-barrel batches. Utilizing non-chill filtered bourbons, they proof their spirits with mineral water from New York's legendary Rosendale Mines, the same place that inspired their name. The Widow Jane 10 Year Bourbon is an uncompromising and bold expression with deep cherry notes and a charred oak finish, embodying the distinctive New York style. Noteworthy accolades include being named World's Best Small Batch Bourbon at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards and receiving a Double Gold Medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Buy it now!

Finger Lakes Distilling Mckenzie Single Barrel Bourbon

70% of the mash bill for McKenzie Bourbon whiskies is created from locally grown corn, and the whiskies are handmade. They employ two types of mashbills: rye and wheated. This is the latter, where the mash contains 10% malted barley and 20% red winter wheat, both of which come from local sources, in addition to the corn. This whiskey was bottled at 105.8 proof after being matured for just over 6 years in a brand-new American oak barrel with a char level of 4. Along with a pleasant hint of smoke, the nose also reveals notes of butterscotch and cherry cola. With a surprise resemblance to the notes on the scent and a dash of cocoa powder and brown sugar, the mouthfeel is well-balanced and medium-bodied. With notes of spiced cake, pears, and smoke, the aftertaste is comforting. Buy it now!

New York Distilling Co. Jaywalk Heirloom Rye

Ok not a bourbon but of the three bottles available at the launch of New York Distilling Co’s Jaywalk Rye brand, Heirloom stands out as the most intriguing. Distilled from Horton rye, a 17th-century varietal native to New York, Heirloom is a limited annual release featuring cask-strength liquid from meticulously chosen single barrels. Buy it now!

Reservoir Distillery Maison De Cuivre Bourbon Whiskey

Reservoir Distillery's Maison De Cuivre Bourbon Whiskey, crafted in small batches in Virginia, is a true gem. Distilled in copper pot stills, this bourbon boasts a high corn mash bill, resulting in a flavor profile characterized by notes of spice, butterscotch, and toasted oak. It's a testament to the artistry and dedication of Reservoir Distillery in producing exceptional spirits. Buy it now!

8. Widow Jane The Vaults Bourbon

Widow Jane, founded in 2012, offers a whiskey with a proof of 99, originating from Tennessee, Indiana, and Kentucky. Priced between $200 and $300, this whiskey features a flavor profile with notes of vanilla beans, chocolate fudge, orange peels, and dried cherries, reflecting the diverse and rich distilling heritage of these regions. Buy it now!

FEW Spirits Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Small-batch and bold, this one’s all about vanilla, toffee, and a cherry pop. It’s brash in the best way—kinda like that loud cousin who’s always a blast. Buy it now!

Widow Jane Lucky Thirteen Bourbon

Introducing an exceptional entry in the American Blended Straight Bourbon category honored by the TAG Global Spirits Awards, offering a symphony of tasting notes including vanilla bean, Earl Grey tea, caramel, sweet tobacco, pecan pie, whole grain toast, grapefruit peel, and nutmeg. Buy it now!

Bootlegger New York Craft Bourbon

Bootlegger Whiskey, hailing from the Do Good Distillery in Roscoe, New York, embodies the spirit of its name, paying homage to the city's historical association with bootlegging. Mashed, distilled, and bottled on the outskirts of New York City, the Do Good Distillery is no stranger to crafting high-quality spirits, including Vodka, Gin, and Bourbon Cream. Bootlegger New York Craft Bourbon stands out as a testament to the state's grandeur, exclusively using locally grown corn. The pot-distilled Spirit undergoes maturation in new charred oak barrels of varying sizes, aging until deemed perfect by the distillers. Unfiltered through anything but a cotton mesh, this gluten-free and kosher-certified Bourbon showcases the uniqueness of New York, giving enthusiasts yet another reason to love the city that never sleeps. Buy it now!

FEW Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon

FEW Spirits, a distillery deeply rooted in the history of Evanston, Illinois, the epicenter of the Prohibition and temperance movement. I tried FEW’s Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. This bourbon, produced in the same season the grains are harvested, is aged for four years in American oak barrels in a federally bonded warehouse. The result is a smooth and aromatic bourbon with notes of cherry, toasted vanilla, and caramel, perfect for sipping neat or with a large ice cube. Buy it now!

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