Review #: 18
Description: Smugglers’ Notch Litigation Wheat Whiskey
Spirit: Wheat Whiskey
Background: A craft distillery in Vermont, Smuggler’s Notch has a small tasting room I came across and did a flight of their range of spirits, and this one came out on top. This was still in my “travel and buy craft things” phase of my spirits journey so I wasn’t tasting as critically as I do now. Litigation is a wheat whiskey they released after wrapping up some legal disputes, hence the name. I couldn’t find any information on it besides it saying “distilled from wheat” so who knows where it’s from and not designated straight, so a little suspect. Let’s see how it is.
Distillery – Undisclosed
Bottler – Smuggler’s Notch
Brand – Smuggler’s Notch
Selection – N/A
ABV – 46%
Age – NAS
Nose – Definitely wheat and very bread-y, orange, plum
Taste – Butterscotch, vanilla, pleasant sweetness, leather
Finish – Oak starts to come through, gingerbread, pleasant warmth
Score: 5
Would I buy a bottle? Probably not
Thoughts: This has all the makings of what you’d want from a perfectly acceptable wheat whiskey. Sweet but not sickening, lots of bread and fruit, and just enough barrel influence to add a layer of complexity. It’s enjoyable but overall has a pretty low ceiling. I don’t regret this bottle but I won’t need to replace it when done. Hopefully their releases will have a bit more information and I’ll keep my eyes out for what they are putting out.