Luke Cuenco 09.25.24
Bourbon is greater than only a drink—it’s a lifestyle, particularly in Kentucky. For 5 Springs Distillery, these Kentucky roots run deep. Based by Lisa, a Kentucky native with a protracted profession in vodka, tequila, and whiskey, 5 Springs displays her perception that bourbon belongs in open areas, round campfires, and amongst mates—not simply in fancy boardrooms. After diving into their Blood Orange and Honey Sage bourbons, we’ve arrived on the final in our tasting trio: Vanilla Maple. This closing providing from the younger distillery continues its mission to place a recent, adventurous spin on conventional bourbon. Let’s see how this one rounds out the lineup.
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OHUB Assessment: 5 Springs Vanilla Maple Infused Bourbon
The Founder’s imaginative and prescient for 5 Springs stems from a lifelong love of bourbon and a profession steeped within the alcohol business. After years of working with completely different spirits, Lisa returned to her Kentucky roots to create one thing that displays each custom and innovation. You’ll keep in mind from our final assessment of their Blood Orange-infused bourbon that 5 Springs is all about including a recent perspective on how you can get pleasure from bourbon, whereas nonetheless honoring the time-honored custom that’s Bourbon distilling. On this case, the sweetness of maple and vanilla is the flavour goal and right now we’ll not solely strive it out simply by itself (my favourite choice) however we’ll additionally strive one of many urged cocktails that got here with the bottle. The 5 Springs ethos is one in every of mixing journey with craft, so we’ll be making an attempt out the Maple Bourbon Smash. However first, the Bourbon itself. What’s on provide with 5 Springs Vanilla Maple Infused Bourbon?
Packaging and Presentation: Magnificence with a Trace of Journey
Like the opposite choices within the collection, the Vanilla Maple is available in distinctive creative packaging, incorporates a good cork stopper, and is bottled in extraordinarily thick and sturdy glass. I feel the presentation of your bourbon isn’t an important factor, however it’s good when corporations put in some real effort into their presentation and packaging so as to add to the complete expertise. Having a pleasant cork/wooden stopper will all the time offer you a satisfying “pop” when the bottle is opened and it’s a pleasant audible addition to the general expertise. So so far as appearances go, whether or not you’re new to bourbon or a seasoned drinker, the outward 5 Springs presentation invitations you in with a way of each refinement and enjoyable.
Nostril: Candy, however not Too Candy
Opening the bottle instantly reveals the fastidiously balanced nature of this specific 5-Springs-infused bourbon. The nostril affords a wave of candy, wealthy vanilla and maple, however it’s not as overwhelming because the Blood Orange-infused bourbon. As a substitute, I really feel just like the scent of the Vanilla maple truly provides you temporary hints of a bunch of candy flavors past simply maple and vanilla. For me, the bourbon presents some considerably robust and candy brown sugar and even peppery notes together with the traditional oaky bourbon basis.
As you’re taking a deeper whiff, you may sense the bourbon’s power beneath the sweetness, with spicy undertones and a touch of charred oak rising. This mix of pure sweetness and bourbon heat units the stage for what’s a well-balanced and alluring drink. In contrast to many flavored bourbons that may lean closely into synthetic notes, the 5 Springs Vanilla Maple Infused Bourbon achieves a pure, virtually nostalgic sweetness, harking back to maple syrup-drenched pancakes on a cool morning. In the end I desire my bourbon to be simply that – bourbon, however within the curiosity of exploring, I really feel just like the 5 Springs method is the very best – I don’t get the sensation that any intense sugary syrups have been used within the making of this bourbon.
Palate: Warms The Soul Like a Campfire
Proper from the primary sip—and even only a sniff—you may really feel the love and care that went into this infusion. The creamy vanilla is the very first thing that hits you, and it’s like being wrapped in a tender, cozy blanket by the hearth on a cold fall night. As that vanilla be aware fades, the maple steps in, bringing a pure sweetness that’s by no means an excessive amount of or fake-tasting. What actually units this bourbon aside is how nicely it balances these candy flavors with the traditional oaky and smoky Kentucky bourbon vibe.
This must be a pure assumption as 5 Springs bourbon is aged in American oak barrels, it has that acquainted oakiness and spice we anticipate, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little bit of charred wooden giving it some actual depth in the event you let it sit in your tongue. At 90 proof, there’s a heat to it, however it’s extra like a delicate hug than a slap within the face like with a few of my favourite straight bourbons. In a brief sentence, I’d say that 5 Springs Vanilla Maple is approachable however nonetheless satisfying for the seasoned bourbon drinker. It strikes an ideal stability between being daring and clean, letting the vanilla and maple flavors stand out with out taking up the entire present. It’s a bourbon that feels acquainted to traditionalists but in addition affords one thing new for these wanting a bit extra journey of their glass.
Mouthfeel and End: Silky and Satisfying
This bourbon feels wealthy and velvety on the tongue, with the vanilla and maple including a creamy smoothness that’s laborious to withstand. As you sip, the oak and spice begin to come via, placing an excellent stability between candy and savory.
The end is lengthy and satisfying, with simply sufficient heat to remind you that is bourbon with some kick. Because the sweetness fades, you’re left with the deep, wealthy style of oak and a contact of cinnamon and pepper. It’s the sort of bourbon you need to take your time with as a result of each sip has one thing new to supply. Nevertheless, in the event you do handle to shine off the bottle fairly rapidly as I did, you’ll be comforted to know that 5 Springs is fairly reasonably priced at about $35 per bottle from most shops.
Cocktail Trial: Maple Bourbon Smash
Proper out of the gate, I’ll admit I’m a little bit of a bourbon purist. I really like the uncooked expertise of 5 Springs Vanilla Maple Bourbon by itself, so after I determined to strive the Maple Bourbon Smash, I used to be curious to see how the flavors would maintain up in a cocktail. The unique recipe doesn’t name for maple syrup, relying solely on the vanilla maple infusion within the bourbon, so I went forward and gave it a whirl. The method was easy: muddle some lemon wedges with recent mint, pour a beneficiant quantity of the 5 Springs Vanilla Maple Bourbon over ice, give it an excellent shake, and pressure it right into a glass. Lastly, garnish with a bit little bit of mint, and have a seat in your favourite sipping chair.
The lemon actually took over, and sadly, the pure maple sweetness within the bourbon was overpowered by the robust citrus of the lemon. The mint got here via properly, including a recent and fragrant contact, however general, the cocktail lacked the depth of sweetness I hoped for. The stability wasn’t fairly proper. After a couple of extra sips, it turned clear to me: the recipe might actually profit from a cocktail spoon or two of precise maple syrup to carry out that heat and sweetness that makes the bourbon so particular. Ultimately, whereas the Maple Bourbon Smash wasn’t fairly hitting the mark as is, I feel a bit tweak with the maple syrup would elevate it. It’s nonetheless a enjoyable, refreshing drink—particularly for many who get pleasure from citrus-forward cocktails—however a bit extra sweetness would spherical out the flavors superbly.
Worth Level: An Inexpensive Luxurious
For a way premium it feels, you may be shocked that 5 Springs Vanilla Maple Infused Bourbon is completely accessible price-wise. It’s solely about $35—like I briefly talked about earlier—and for that value, you’re getting a significantly good bottle. It’s clean, versatile, and excellent whether or not you’re sipping it neat or mixing it into cocktails. Actually, it’s a bourbon you may get pleasure from any day of the week, however it’s additionally good sufficient to interrupt out for particular events. For the flavour, craftsmanship, and care that goes into making it, it’s a steal in the event you’re seeking to strive one thing new, or are on the lookout for a strong cocktail starter to combine with.
Remaining Ideas: A Worthy Journey
I’ve had plenty of enjoyable going via every of the primary three choices that 5 Springs has put on the market for us to get pleasure from. Regardless of my preliminary withholdings concerning the idea of infused bourbon, I’m fairly a fan of the Honey Sage providing as my favourite with Blood Orange and Vanilla Maple duking it out for a second. I feel it’s a secure by even in the event you don’t assume you’ll get pleasure from all of them that a lot. At $35 a bottle, 5 Springs has priced their adventurous tackle Bourbon in a means that makes it accessible to informal mixologists, and individuals who desire a easy, candy, and classic-tasting drink with out the necessity to combine it themselves. In the end I feel a lot of the 5 Springs choices shine greatest when tasted alone, however the choices for cocktails are nearly infinite, and having a few of the best-starting flavors to work with might be an effective way to find and excellent cocktails of your personal.
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