Pursuit United Triple Mash Bourbon

Kentucky, Tennessee, and New York all went into this bottle.

Most bourbon on the shelf comes out of a single distillery. Pursuit United Triple Mash Bourbon pulls from three. Bardstown Bourbon Co. in Kentucky and an unnamed partner in Tennessee supply two low-rye bourbons, mostly corn with about 10% rye. Finger Lakes Distilling in New York supplies a wheated bourbon, where wheat takes rye's usual place as the second grain. Count it up and you get four grains: corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley.

Wheat drinks softer than rye, and low rye means less pepper. At 88 proof, the blend leans sweet and easy, with fried dough and kettle corn on the nose.

Ryan Cecil, Pursuit's master blender, started the Bourbon Pursuit podcast with Kenny Coleman in 2015. The two say 10 years of interviews with industry experts taught them the whiskey business. Pursuit doesn't distill these bourbons. It picks barrels from its partners, then blends and bottles them in Louisville.

It's an easy everyday pour, neat or on a rock, and a soft base for an Old Fashioned or a hot toddy.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: fried dough, kettle corn, mulling spices
• Palate: almond croissant, baked apricot, stone fruit
• Finish: cinnamon sugar, cola, a little black pepper

Bottle Specifications

• Category: A blend of straight bourbon whiskeys (low-rye and wheated)
• Age: No age statement
• Mash bills: Bardstown Bourbon Co., KY: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley. Tennessee partner: 80% corn, 10% rye, 10% malted barley. Finger Lakes Distilling, NY: 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley
• Proof / ABV: 88 proof / 44%
• Blender: Pursuit Spirits, Louisville, KY
• Bottle size: 700ml

FAQ

What does "wheated bourbon" mean?
Bourbon has to be at least 51% corn. The second grain is usually rye, which adds spice. A wheated bourbon uses wheat instead, which makes it softer and rounder. One of the three bourbons in this blend is wheated.

How is this different from the Double Oaked Bourbon?
Same three bourbons. Double Oaked is 108 proof and gets a second finish on French oak. Triple Mash is 88 proof with no extra finish.

Who is behind Pursuit Spirits?
Ryan Cecil and Kenny Coleman, who started the Bourbon Pursuit podcast in 2015. They started the spirits company in 2018.

Good in an Old Fashioned and a hot toddy.