Beacon Bourbon Cask Strength Mid-Valley Wine and Spirits Pick

May 10

In the last decade, Bourbon, Rye, and other spirits from New York have not only become commonplace, but have taken on a life and, dare I say, spirit of their own. Empire Rye is becoming a more and more official category, equal in legal stature to a Tennessee Whiskey or a Missouri Bourbon. Rye has been a staple crop in New York for hundreds of years following the German and Nordic settlers who immigrated here. Rye took naturally to the black soil and cooler climates of New York, where corn could be grown but rye grew better.

Like its sister states Pennsylvania and Maryland, New York Rye has developed its own style. But what about the bourbon? To me, New York bourbon has lagged behind its rye compatriot. Whereas I would blindly trust a New York rye to be good, I might take a second before assuming the same for the bourbon (and honestly, I’ve had some clunkers).

Let’s take Beacon, produced by the Dennings Point Distillery. Dennings Point sources their grain and fruit from farms within 50 miles of the distillery, highlighting the fertile Hudson Valley. I appreciate the locavore intention, and respect it.

The Beacon Cask Strength is a special release, limited in production, with a few store picks available. The sample I received (blind) was from the Mid Valley Wine & Liquor store in Newburgh, NY, not far from the distillery. They do a great job with picks, and a certain gentleman there is why I’m a proud member of the New Jersey Bourbon and Yacht Club.

I won’t tell you this is a perfect product - I think it needs a few more years, just to take the harsher edges off and let what I think are great bourbon flavors underneath emerge in their own right. But those flavors are there.

I look forward to reviewing this again in a few years. For now, it’s a great bourbon-in-process, and surely will be loved by those who love craft bourbons. Give it a few years, and I think I’ll come around to it, too.

Beacon Bourbon Cask Strength: Specs

Classification: Straight Bourbon

Origin: Dennings Point Distillery

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Proof: 115.7 (57.85% ABV)

Age: NAS

Location: New York

Beacon Bourbon Cask Strength Price: $59

Official Website

Beacon Bourbon Cask Strength Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: Russett amber, Thin rims and medium droplets.

Nose: Bourbony, lots of caramel popcorn. Barrel char, maybe a little young - there’s a young funk in there. Is that spearmint in the background?

Palate: Woody - tip-of-the-tongue burn that rolls out quickly, though the hot oak remains. Cocoa powder, definitely some rye in there, too. Mouthfeel is thin-to-medium, oily but barely coats before dissipating.

Finish: Hot and short.

Blind Guess: Craft bourbon, around 3-5 years old at most. I’m reminded most of Wilderness Trail, though I think that’s too easy a guess. Tastes around 105-110 proof, too.

Overall: Some promising flavors but definitely needs a few more years to calm it down.

Final Rating: 5.4

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)