July 11, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer
As noted in an earlier post, Wayne and I toured the Spirits of French Lick distillery last month, making it our 61st new distillery! Following the tour, we enjoyed a tasting of four selections from their spirit offerings. Ultimately, we determined that The Morning Glory would be the bottle to take home from that visit.
As with all the naming at Spirits of French Lick, there is a specific meaning and origin. From the back label on this bottle: In the early days of Indiana history, inns and taverns were common stops for early travelers on the Vincennes trail and similar pathways. Offering rest, respite, and entertainment, they could be rough places that catered to the desires of men with little to lose who were looking to make a name for themselves. One such establishment, The Morning Glory, operated for decades in Campbellsburg, Indiana, and served up whiskey make by several local distilleries from the nearby Clifty valley. The decadence for which this tavern was known lives on in this unique bottling.
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
The Morning Glory Kasha Bourbon Bottled in Bond
Mashbill – 66% Corn, 12% Rye, 16% Kasha (toasted buckwheat), 2% Buckwheat, 4% Malt
Age – At least 4 years
Proof – 100
Other – Double pot distilled; 105 barrel entry proof; aged in #2 char barrels; non-chill filtered; Bottled In Bond
Price Paid – $59.11 (with tax)
Color – Light Amber
Aroma – A rather unique nose as the grains are really dominate, in a good way. There is an earthiness with a light scent of honey, warm buttered toast, and oak.
Tasted Neat – Rustic, roasted grain, buckwheat, nutty, earthy, savory, with a light sweetness of honey. Similar to buttered buckwheat pancakes or cream of wheat. Terrific mouthfeel. The finish is medium with buckwheat, a light oak, and a savory spiciness such as nutmeg and allspice.
Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry brightens and lightens it while bringing even more grain to the surface and it is very nutty. In addition, it made it much spicer with strong notes of cinnamon, especially on the finish.
Tasted with a pecan – Very interesting. The grains have now taken a back seat and taking the driver’s position is pecan, caramel, and dark chocolate. The finish is dry, spicy, and oaky.
Tasted with dark chocolate – The chocolate muted many of the grains and sweet flavors, leaving almost a sour note and added a black pepper finish.
Discussion and Final Notes
If you love bourbon, you really need to give this a try. It is not common to find Kasha as a bourbon grain, and one that is done this well is not to be missed. That said, this is not a standard bourbon flavor profile so it is important that you are ready for that when first taste it. Take time with it and enjoy it for its savoriness.
A bit after our tasting concluded, we decided to enjoy another pour while having cigars. We each selected a Drew Estate Acid – Kuba Kuba for Wayne and Blondie Belicoso for me. We found them each to be a fine pairing as they did not overwhelm one another but brought out some great flavors in each.
Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Spirit Requirements
Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.
Bottled-in-Bond – Must be produced in a single distillation season by a single distillery; must mature in a U.S. bonded warehouse for a minimum of four years; and the aged spirit must be bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). For additional information on Bottled-in-Bond requirements, please read this post – Bottled in Bond.
NOTE: The bourbon in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Your Bourbon Journey 