Black Button Distilling Cask Strength Bourbon
Black Button’s Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey was notable for balancing youth with complexity, resulting in something closer to an aged grain aquavit than a raw distillate. One might expect the cask strength version of that four grain to be a simply stronger version - not quite.
Black Button’s Cask Strength is far more interesting than a higher-proof bourbon. At 110, the bottling strength is close to what’s in the barrel (according to Black Button, within a few proof points at most) and what is poured certainly does not taste watered down at all. It is also aged a bit longer than the four grain, still (for now) in 30-gallon barrels as they transition to the standard 53-gallon size.
It is an unusual four grain in that the wheat - not the corn or the rye - is the star. Wheat is a soft flavor, often imbuing the bourbons with which it is distilled a milk chocolate or soft red fruit note. Here, it is cooked wheat instead, almost a wheated cornbread type of profile. The vanillins from the smaller cask are fresher, as if the bourbon inside kept the red line to the flavorful parts of the wood and went no further. There is no oakiness or woodiness.
The finish turns the profile darker, into salted pretzel crusts and dark rye bread. The rye, so subtle for most of the pour, presents itself most on the finish without overpowering the other grains.
This, though, brings me to what I think is the most intriguing takeaway from this: I felt the four grain straight bourbon, at 84 proof and with its other specs, was great as-is and ready for enjoyment. I believe the cask strength has more to give.
Don’t get me wrong - this is delicious right now, and I’d happily have a full bottle. Rather, I believe this to have more promise, more growth ahead of it, and more complexity to develop. The four grain was refreshing and interesting. The empire rye was ready, perhaps only surpassable by releasing it at a higher proof. This cask strength will grow, and I can’t wait to try it as it does.
Thank you to Black Button Distilling for providing this bottle for the review with no strings attached.
Black Button Distilling Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey: Specs
Classification: New York Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: Black Button Distilling
Mashbill: 60% Corn, 20% Wheat, 9% Rye, 11% Barley
Proof: 110 (55% ABV)
Age: 2+ Years Old
Barrel Size: 15- and 30-Gallon (Transitioning to 53-Gallon as of Writing)
Location: New York
Black Button Distilling Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Price: $74.99
Black Button Distilling Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Maple syrup.
Nose: Relatively light nose, grainy but sweet, not raw. The wheat notes are stronger than expected. Roasted corn, barrel char, a vanilla bean taken out of extract, spent.
Palate: A split second of heat followed by an avalanche of charred corn, oak pepper, and spice, with the wheat still playing a forceful role with a soft flavor. The rye is surprisingly subtle. Mouthfeel is medium-to-full and astringent, with semi-sweet chocolate and a stronger vanilla note like a baked vanilla pastry.
Finish: Returns a little to the grain, but with salted pretzel crusts and dark rye bread. The breadiness is surprising and not unwelcome.
Overall: Still has some grain notes to work out, but the wheat’s presence is unusually strong and is as such a flavor differentiator.
Final Rating: 6.6
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Old Label Batch 4 or 2, Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (Stagg Jr. Batch 10, 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 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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