Bending Branch 1840 Four Grain Bourbon arrives at 54.5% abv; four grain mash bill: corn, wheat, rye,. Priced at $95. Dry and instantly warming to the palate, we assessed it with care.
Palate
Dry and instantly warming to the palate. Subtle notes of char and oak are present up front. The flavor is robust without being confrontational. I struggled to piece out individual notes as the flavor is well blended together. I can find almost burnt brown sugar but not in a bad way. I can find the corn and wheat sweetness with rye spice sort of accentuating the profile. The finish is very dry and long. It holds for a good long while on the palate with a tingling sensation. The final taste is char and oak but its soft. The flavor almost numbs the tongue which is different.
Finish
For a four year bourbon this four grain has a lot of great components. It seems to be a decent introduction to high proof bourbon but falls short in a number of ways, at least to this reviewer. The taste profile was very hard to discern, and I find the softness of each grain was dulled by the lack of aging. I think we lose some of what makes this whiskey special because the char and oak are just too overrepresented.
Verdict
Bending Branch 1840 Four Grain Bourbon represents solid craftsmanship at $95. Dry and instantly warming to the palate. While it may not redefine expectations, it offers genuine quality and reliable drinking pleasure.
