About: Backbone Bourbon is an NDP based in Indiana. Prior to choosing the name “Backbone,” the companies founders began purchasing aged bourbon and rye starting in 2011, which they sold exclusively in IN until 2014. Backbone Bourbon is now shipping throughout the country and offers several product lines to include Uncut, Old Bones, Bone Snapper Rye, and the newest addition, Decade Down Uncut. According to it’s website, Decade Down Uncut will be a limited annual release. This year’s edition was limited to 2700 bottles. So how is the bourbon?
Distiller: MGP
Bottler: Backbone Bourbon Co
Brand: Backbone Bourbon
ABV: 55
Age: 61 Months (blend of 5-7yr bourbons)
Mashbill: 74% Corn, 21% Rye, 5% Malted Barley (All barrels)
Finish: 25% of bourbon used was finished in sherry barrels for 12 months
Price: $75
Nose: I have sampled this bourbon several times since opening the bottle, and chocolate is always the first note I pick up. More specifically, a dark syrupy chocolate note. Continuing on, there are nutty toasted almond aromas, possibly from the sherry finished barrels, dried fruit, vanilla, and a hefty amount of oak for its age.
Taste: The chocolate continues to lead, but on the palate it tastes like pudding. Date syrup, marzipan, brown sugar, and rye spice also present themselves throughout. I really like how this bourbon develops as its sipped.
Finish: The chocolate notes become slightly bitter and are accompanied by tobacco and espresso flavors. Rye and oak add heat and spiciness that warm the chest and leave a slight tingle on my lips as well. As the earthier flavors start to dissipate I can still taste brownie batter. Who doesn’t love brownie batter?
Overall: Honestly, I was wary of purchasing this bottle given the age (5yrs) to price ($75) ratio, but after reading some other Backbone reviews, I decided to give it a try. I have been lucky with young MGP in the past and am happy that this one also paid off. I’m always impressed by the variety of flavors that come from various NDPs using MGP. With that said, if you are interested in taking a chance on a young sourced bourbon, this one is worth it at MSRP, but don’t go crazy or get caught up in the LE hype of this bottle and end up overpaying. $75-80 is about as high as you should go.
Rating: 7.2
T8ke scale:
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I’d rather have.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all-time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.