Hayes Parker Reserve Bourbon
Hayes Parker Reserve Bourbon, 0 YO, 45 %
Hayes Parker Reserve Bourbon
Here's a first for me, and that has me excited. Have you ever heard of the TerrePURE process? Using chemistry rather than oak barrels to 'mature' whiskey? This process is claimed to remove impurities in the distilled spirit, improve its quality, and reduce the cost of the end product mainly by cutting drastically down on the maturation time. It always boils down to money, doesn't it? Here's what Terresentia say about TerrePURE:
TerrePURE® reduces several known congeners (such as methanol, isobutanol, amyl alcohols, propanol, methyl alcohol, and free radicals) to a greater degree than any other industry method. In addition to this reduction of congeners, our TerrePURE® technology also induces a conversion of certain harsh-tasting acids to smooth-tasting esters (glycerides). This conversion produces a spirit with a much smoother mouth feel and dramatically enhanced taste and flavor.
The company behind TerrePURE is called Terresentia Corporation. You can read up on the technology here, or watch this video. I can also strongly recommend this article from fellow blogger Fred Minnick.
I have purchased a few TerrePURE whiskeys now, and the first to be put to the test is Hayes Parker Reserve Bourbon. On the bottle we are reassured that this product has been "Aged at least six months".
The Hayes Parker Reserve Bourbon certainly is a steal pricewise, selling at USD 20 for 1.75 liters!
Nose (18/25): Well, there is - surprisingly - hardly any alcohol bite on the nose. Vanilla, banana, and a touch of mint. Fairly bland and boring, but nothing wrong per se.
Taste (17/25): Feels harsh. There definitely is alcohol burn on the palate. Peppery and raw - but strangely smooth at the same time.
Finish (15/25): Watery and unfortunately long finish. I would never have guessed bourbon or any other type of whisky in a blind tasting.
Balance (16/25): This is a strange one indeed. I can, at a stretch, see that this makes sense economically, but to me this has hardly anything to do with whiskey. It might work in a cocktail, or drowned in cola and ice. It is not a sipping whiskey. "An experience you can spend the rest of your life with" it says on the bottle. I beg to differ.
Score (66/100)
Sláinte! - Thomas
