So, I was looking over the selections over at BevMax and came across one that I had not heard of, Backbone Bourbon. I did some digging and learned that Backbone Bourbon Company started 10 years ago in Indiana, sourcing product from LDI (Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana) prior to LDI being acquired by MGP. Their primary focus was uncut whiskey. Remember, this is 2010 when there was very little focus on uncut, non-proofed down bourbons. Taking that leap of faith back then earns some That’s Cool points from me. Backbone was actually one of the first to be transparent on the label that their product was sourced in Indiana and barreled in Bardstown. I decided to go ahead and pull the trigger and take a chance and see how they did.
The bottle I have is batch 21, which has a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% barley. It comes in at 114.8 proof and shows that it was barreled in September of 2014 and bottled in September of 2019, so this right at 5 years old.
Right off, this 5 year old beauty comes in with a very light amber color in the glass. Quickly forming legs run at a medium clip down the glass, but leave a long lasting trail.
The nose is very, very subtle. That doesn’t mean it is bad, but at 114.8 proof and 5 years old, I expected a bit more punch than I initially get. After a few swirls, the aromas start to arrive. Very light ethanol (less than expected) comes up, then some traditional bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla. Secondary notes of strawberry, sweet tarts that mix in with damp hay. That theme of dampness comes more to the forefront as it opens up. I get taken back to when I was a kid and going outside after a quick shower and the steam is rising off the streets and the freshly cut grass that has just a bit of moisture to it. While that may come across as “musty” to some, it isn’t bad. The nose is inviting and has some great layers and nuances.
First sip brings initial oak that immediately flips over to green apple, that tartness I got on the nose. Some nice rye spice begins to coat my mouth, that gradually overcomes the tartness. Some light cinnamon comes in at the back of the palate that partners with the rye spice. A good mouthfeel, which is to be expected from a 5 year old product. Not a ton of depth to the palate as the spice covers the tartness and is pretty much the lead player. Not flat or one note, but I think for a 5 year old MGP product, I expected a bit more.
That rye spice stays on short to medium finish. The oak returns on the back end of the finish, with some smoke, but not in the traditional sense. That dampness that was on the nose comes back, so the oak is like an oak stave that has soaked in water, that is smoldering on a camp fire. The oak is the predominant note, not the smoke, but it really lingers to the end. It doesn’t overpower the spice and actually compliments it. I will say, however, that where the nose wasn’t a musty type of dampness, there is some mustiness to the finish. I have gotten that note in 5-6 year old MGP on neck pours in the past. It isn’t off-putting to me, but it is definitely there.
In summary, Backbone is not a bad pour. At $49.99 plus shipping, I have a bit of hard time saying this is a $50 bottle given other products you can get in that range…maybe. Based on some other pours where I pick up some mustiness, that note tends to fade away after the bottle has been open awhile, which I fully expect to happen when I revisit in about a month. Neck pour tells me $40-$45, but has the potential to be right in that $50 spot if it opens up the way I expect it should. If you are an MGP head, yes, take a flyer.
Head over to BevMax and use the promo code VINCE1 and you will get $10 off of shipping. To ship to me was $11.95, so I got my shipment for $1.95. Can’t beat that
Backbone Bourbon Uncut - Batch 21
6.9
Pros
- Inviting, deep nose
- Nice spice on the palate
Cons
- A bit "musty" on the finish