Review #195: Manifest Whiskey Project Release #4

AGE and MASH BILL: A blend of:

• 4 yr MGP Bourbon (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley)
• 2.5 yr Manifest Wheated Rye Whiskey (60% rye, 40% wheat)

PROOF: 94

COST: $50 for 750mL bottle

Manifest Distilling is based out of Jacksonville, FL. Their “Manifest Whiskey Project” is a way for them to experiment with blending and play with unique mash bills. Their first 3 releases were all wildly different:

• The first release was a blend of 7 barrels of 10 yr MGP bourbon
• The second was an American Single Malt that was distilled from 2,000 gallons of Intuition Ale Works’ Underdark Stout
• And the third was a collab between Manifest, Seelbach’s, and T8ke solera aging 10 yr and 3 yr bourbons

This fourth release is also quite unique in that it is the first to use some of Manifest Distilling’s own whiskey in it – a wheated rye whiskey. (While it's titled "Bourbon" on the label, I would think it's more aptly named a blend of straight whiskey's but I supposed the final mash bill still meets the bourbon definition which would suggest it's heavy on the MGP component. But I digress.) It is also a rather low age statement which made me somewhat hesitant to pick up this bottle. However, I saw pretty good feedback on the original MWP releases, so for $50, why not give it a try. Let’s see what this fourth batch of Manifest Whiskey Project provides.

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: Russet honey color (1.3), medium viscosity with thin, moderate legs.

NOSE: Carrot cake with butter cream frosting, a heavy dusting of cinnamon, heavy caramelized sugar on top of vanilla crème Brule sprinkled with orange zest. There’s earthier notes as well such as unsweet iced tea and toasted grains. There’s also a distinctive rye spice present that lends to the earthy backdrop as well.

PALATE:. The mouthfeel is quite oily and coats the palate well. This is quite complex on the palate and originally hard to nail down notes that really harmonize together well. Crème Brule with a near burnt caramelized sugar coating, dark chocolate coated cherries, molasses, and warm wheat bread. After the initial rich flavors, a pop of orange citrus shows up but quickly fades. There’s a consistent and abundantly clear dirty, earthy note of dried rye. Baking spice notes of nutmeg and cinnamon enter late but hang around long into the finish.

FINISH:. A short finish with touch and go sweetness. The spice notes from the palate carry over quite well, but are replaced by sweet oak, caramel, and black pepper. A hint of brown butter and barrel char make an appearance as the flavors start to fade, but it is cinnamon that returns to bring this to a close.

RATING: 6.7/10

OVERALL: A unique whiskey that really pulls you back in wanting to evaluate it further. It’s rather complex and leans a bit grainy and earthy overall, but the palate is bursting with sweetness when it first touches the tongue. I love how complex this flavor profile is for it only having a 2.5 year age statement. I do think the overall young age of this blend is bringing out those earthy grain notes, not to mention the high rye content of the Manifest Distilling component of the blend. However, it’s works for this whiskey and adds to the complexity. I’m impressed with how well this unique blend was executed. Add a few more years onto this to contribute more barrel character and cut down on those grain notes and I think this would be an absolute banger release!

 

1 | Disgusting | Watershed Apple Brandy Finished Bourbon

2 | Poor | Balcones Lineage

3 | Bad | High West Double Rye, Jefferson's Ocean 28

4 | Sub-par | Weller's SR, Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, Hillrock Estate Sauternes CS

5 | Good | Buffalo Trace, Sazerac Rye, Green River Wheated

6 | Very Good | Blanton's, Holladay Bourbons, Eagle Rare

7 | Great | Baker's 7yr SiB, BBCo Origin High Wheat, 1792 BiB

8 | Excellent | Most ECBP batches, Maker's Mark Wood Finishing releases, High West MWND Act 11

9 | Incredible | Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 121.2, BBCo Disco #7 and #13, Four Roses OESQ

10 | Perfect | Found North Batch 08, RR15