Whiskey: Gunnar’s – Bradford Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon

Barrel Finish: N/A
Reviewer: Jason
MSRP: $58
zbourbon rating: 46.00
Value: 4
Uniqueness: 4
Recommendation: On The Fence

Notes:

Gunner’s Distillery released their first bourbon in the summer of 2021. As a new distillery with lofty goals and a clear purpose, I am excited to see what they produce in the coming years. Based in Sedan, Kansas, this young distillery benefits from the 30+ years of experience of Tim Daniels, the Master Distiller. Owned and operated by three families, the distillery aims to bring a light wheated whiskey into the market, competing with established names like Weller, Maker’s Mark, and Larceny. For this review, I will focus on the Bradford Wheated Single Barrel. Let’s see how it compares.
Aroma: The nose starts with pine, leather, herbal tea, and honey, evolving into notes of prunes and a hint of fresh-cut grass.
Flavor: The initial flavors are new oak, black licorice, black pepper, and honey. These then morph into ginger, raisin, a hint of lemon, and end with cinnamon, creating a unique blend.
Finish: The finish is spicy, medium in length, and dry.
Mouthfeel: There’s a light sting and dryness, yet it's mouth-coating.
Overall: The Bradford Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon is intriguingly bold, dry, and sweet, but it does have the characteristics of a younger bourbon. I personally support new distilleries and appreciate their journey. While this bourbon presents a unique blend of flavors, it doesn't completely hit the mark for me. Its distinct flavor profile has an appeal, and I enjoy the variety in expressions. This bottle somewhat reminds me of the LAWS Cask Strength Rye in its uniqueness, though it's less enjoyable for my taste. It's true that single barrel expressions can vary greatly, and while I'm keen on trying them, this one just falls a bit short for me. I’m eager to try other offerings from Gunnar’s, as I have high hopes for their potential. Perhaps a little more aging is what's needed for this bourbon to truly shine. For now, I am on the fence about this bottle.

Class: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: NAS years, months, days
Proof: 119.6
Color: Amber

Aroma: Pine, , Leather, Herbal Tea, Honey, Prunes, Grass, ,

Flavor: New Oak, , Licorice, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Honey, Raisin, Lemon, , ,

Finish: Dry, Spicy, Medium
Mouth-Feel: Dry, Mouth-coating, Light Sting
Overall Character: Bold, Dry, Spicy, Sweet

Aroma Score: 4 out of 10
Flavor Score: 18 out of 40
Finish Score: 10 out of 20
Mouth-Feel Score: 6 out of 10
Value Score: 4 out of 10
Uniqueness Score: 4 out of 10