Corsets, Whips, and Whiskey - Review
Journeyman Distillery's Corsets, Whips & Whiskey is a unique and award-winning wheat whiskey that pays homage to the distillery's historic location in Three Oaks, Michigan. Housed in a former 1800s corset and buggy whip factory, Journeyman has crafted a spirit that embodies both its heritage and innovative approach to whiskey-making[1].
This single-grain, cask strength whiskey is made from 100% organic Michigan-grown wheat, resulting in a smooth and sweet profile reminiscent of Irish whiskey[1]. The use of locally sourced grain showcases the terroir of the region, contributing to the whiskey's distinct character[1].
Corsets, Whips & Whiskey has garnered significant acclaim in the spirits industry. It has been named Whiskey of the Year at the American Spirits Council of Tasters (ASCOT) Awards in both 2022 and 2023, along with numerous other accolades[1]. This recognition has placed Journeyman Distillery among the top craft distillers in the United States.
Its high proof (typically around 118) delivers a powerful yet balanced taste that has captivated whiskey enthusiasts and critics alike[2].
Review:
Nose: I get an immediate cream soda smell off of the nose with a rounded vanilla tinge to it. With this being presumably young (~4-5 years old) the ethanol still packs a punch and is not hidden. After letting it rest for a while I get a cherry syrup added in, almost like it is being poured on top of vanilla ice cream. This is a light amount of cinnamon that is discernable and smells very light and sweet.
Palate: There are a lot of flavors here. This sits nicely on the palate and for how light the nose was, it has much more flavor upon the first sip. This is mildly oily and the first taste that you get is oak spice but it doesn’t last long. It then blooms into Christmas cookies with almond extract and dried sugared cranberries. This sips like this bottlings proof, at 117 (58.5%) but not in a bad way. For the ethanol that was apparent on the nose, much of that is hidden by the flavors. Baking spices are prevalent on this one as some cinnamon and nutmeg comes through toward the back of the sip.
Finish: Longer finish. After taking the sip, I was still tasting many of the notes for 15-20 seconds afterwards. Oddly enough, I get a cardboard like finish on the back-end. I know that sounds terrible but for a brief 2-3 second interval for each sip, I get an oaky/woody/cardboard like note (Which I understand is not something many look for when buying whiskey). It is not off-putting but just interesting as it rounds out. There is a piney, vegetal note on the finish as well.
Overall: 80. I thoroughly enjoyed this whiskey. I think this is the best offering that Journeyman Distillery has produced to date. They have been around for almost fifteen years now and with their Valparaiso distillery opening in October of 2023, it seems that their offerings will only continue to expand and distillate continue to age. This is a nice, well-rounded whiskey, which is only being held back a bit by it’s youthfulness. If this was aged for an additional 3-5 years, we really would have something special.
Value: 70/100; (0 on the overall) At it’s $59.99 MSRP, it is as much as I’d pay for it. I think it is right on the line with how much should be spent based on how much time was spent in the barrel. Usually you can measure bourbon (I know, I know this is a wheat whiskey) by $10 for each year that it is aged. For example, a 10 year old bourbon can fetch $100 and it wouldn’t piss too many people off. This is a bit over my estimated age on the distillate, but based on the slimmer market of Wheat Whiskey and the quality within it, I think it deserves the extra few bucks.
Availability: Accessible (especially in the Midwest). You should not have too much difficulty finding this in your market.
Citations:
[1] https://www.journeyman.com/spirits/corsets-whips-whiskey/
[2] https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/american-whiskey/whiskey-review-journeyman-distillery-corsets-whips-whiskey/
