Doc Swinson’s “Tres Amigos” Rye Whiskey Finished In Rum and Anejo Tequila Casks
Doc Swinson’s “Tres Amigos” Rye Whiskey Finished In Rum and Anejo Tequila Casks TTB Label - Note: ABV/Proof are Placeholders
Ok, my mind is starting to change.
I still don’t like blue agave-based spirits, but I’ve now had a few tequila-finished whiskies that are deliciously fresh, grassy, and spicy.
This is no exception, and might just be the rule. It helps that the tequila finish is paired with rye, itself a great pairing, and the same rum finishing technique Jesse Parker and Doc’s have near-perfected with their Alter Ego Rye. The mix of rum casks adds a complex sweetness that balances the pepper spice and adds to the mouthfeel.
Go with me on this one - at your local liquor store (or online), grab a bottle of Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Rye and side-by-side it with this pour. If you want a third in the set, you could go with Sagamore Spirit’s rum-finished or tequila-finished ryes (Angel’s Envy Rye will be too sweet and Chicken Cock’s Island Rooster too expensive, though the latter is equally well-balanced).
This “Tres Amigos” bottling is a tropical trip in a bottle. I immediately felt like I was entering the tropical forest section of a zoo or amusement park, smelling the warm air with grassy foliage, hints of Caribbean sea spray and local fruit being cut on the side of the street.
You know a whiskey or any drink is done well when it immediately takes you to a sense memory. Maybe your description of “tropical” is different from mine, but I challenge you to try this and not think “tropical.”
You also know a finished whiskey is done well when you can taste both the finish and the whiskey underneath. This blend of straight rye whiskies from MGP was subjected to two powerful finishes, and came out the other side with its sweet, spicy, herbal essence not only intact but elevated.
This is where Doc Swinson’s shines brightest for me. They tell you straight away that their whiskey is sourced from MGP, and their real art is blending and finishing. The rye is a blend of the 95/5 and 51% rye recipes, then finished for the right amount of time to impart the best elements of rum and tequila to the liquid. What Jesse and Doc Swinson’s can’t tell us is where the rum or tequila came from - trust me, I asked - but it’s for two distinct reasons.
Jesse took time to go down to Jalisco and try multiple tequilas before choosing to finish his rye in some. For NDA reasons, those houses are not yet listed on the label. After hearing Jesse talk about his experience in Jalisco, I trust him from a consumer standpoint to have not just chosen the tequila most readily-available but rather the one (or ones) that would highlight the rye the best.
A fun bit of trivia that Jesse could share is that the tequila barrels he secured were not previously used to age bourbon. Like Scotch, Irish whiskey, and much whiskey outside of the United States, tequila-makers use ex-bourbon casks frequently to age tequilas for reposado and anejo varieties. By choosing casks not used for aging bourbon (or anything else - they were virgin barrels), they retained more smoky character from the tequila and the classic buttery vanilla from the cask.
As for the rums, it’s the same set used for the Alter Ego Rye, as I mentioned earlier. The lack of clarity on this is two-fold: first, there are some rum makers who also require NDAs; second, the barrels often come through brokers, companies that buy used barrels and resell them. In the latter scenario, it’s up to the brokers to keep track of where the barrels come from and/or to disclose the sources. If they choose not to disclose, there’s nothing Doc Swinson’s or anyone else could do to be transparent.
Yes, I like transparency, but I also understand when it is limited not by the distiller/producer but by sources outside of their domain. Doc’s is as transparent as they can be, and I’m fine with that - especially when the product earns that by being so well done.
Plus, there are rumors of Doc Swinson’s releasing a tequila…maybe I can be converted after all…
Thank you to Doc Swinson’s for providing this sample for review purposes without restriction.
Doc Swinson’s “Tres Amigos” Rye Whiskey Finished In Rum and Anejo Tequila Casks: Specs
Classification: Rye Finished in Rum and Anejo Tequila Casks
Origin: MGP, Doc Swinson’s
Mashbill: Mashbill 1: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley, Mashbill 2: 45% Corn, 51% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Proof: 101.9 (50.95% ABV)
Age: NAS (5+ Years Old on Website)
Location: Distilled and Aged in Indiana, Finished in California
Doc Swinson’s “Tres Amigos” Rye Whiskey Finished In Rum and Anejo Tequila Casks Price: $84.99
Doc Swinson’s “Tres Amigos” Rye Whiskey Finished In Rum and Anejo Tequila Casks Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Black iced tea. Thin rims, running droplets.
Nose: Earthy and grassy, like entering the “Tropical” section of a zoo (minus the less-desired smells!). Deep, warm rye, not spicy, smells like a dark, aged rum and an agricole had a baby. The agave is subtle.
Palate: Spicy rye hits up front, more on the tongue itself than on the tip. The rum and anejo are both immediately present, laying heavily on the whole tongue. Sweeter rum grows, vanilla, spiked brown sugar - becomes dangerously smooth as the pepper spice fades. Mouthfeel is just a bit hot at first with black pepper, but it fades into an oily and slightly numbing buzz.
Finish: Darker, the rum and age on the tequila taking over and bringing out chocolaty notes from the rye. Shorter side of medium on the finish but invites you for another drink.
Overall: Deceptive in the best way. I don’t like tequila, but it’s perfectly balanced with the rum, allowing the rye to go tropical and grassy without losing the pepperiness in the finishing casks.
Final Rating: 7.6
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary
8 | Excellent | Exceptional
7 | Great | Well above average
6 | Very Good | Better than average
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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