I'll be honest — when Driftless Glen Small Batch 4 Year Old Bourbon landed on my desk, I wasn't sure what to expect. This isn't a name you hear thrown around in the usual bourbon conversations, and at four years old with a £60.95 price tag, it needs to justify itself against some seriously stiff competition from Kentucky's heavy hitters. But here's the thing about American whiskey right now: some of the most interesting juice is coming from places you wouldn't expect.
Driftless Glen operates out of Wisconsin, which might raise an eyebrow if you're used to thinking of bourbon as strictly a Kentucky affair. But let's get the law straight — bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, provided it meets the federal standards of identity: at least 51% corn in the mashbill, distilled to no more than 160 proof, entered into new charred oak barrels at no more than 125 proof, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. This one comes in at 48% ABV, which puts it at 96 proof — comfortably above the legal minimum and right in that sweet spot where you're getting genuine flavour intensity without the heat overwhelming everything.
Four years is young for a bourbon, no question. But age statements can be misleading — what matters is what happened during those four years. Warehouse placement, local climate swings, barrel entry proof — all of these shape the final spirit far more than the number on the label suggests. Wisconsin's continental climate means dramatic temperature shifts between summer and winter, which drives the whiskey in and out of the wood aggressively. That kind of seasonal cycling can accelerate maturation in ways that a steady, mild climate simply can't.
The small batch designation tells us this was selected from a limited number of barrels, which typically means someone was making deliberate choices about consistency and quality rather than just dumping everything into a vat and hoping for the best. At this price point, that curation matters.
Tasting Notes
I'd encourage you to approach this one with an open mind. At 48% ABV, it carries enough weight to stand up in a cocktail but has the balance to reward neat sipping. A few drops of water will open it up without flattening it. Given the bourbon category and the proof, expect the classic American whiskey profile — corn sweetness underpinned by oak influence — but with whatever regional character Wisconsin's climate and water source bring to the table.
The Verdict
Driftless Glen Small Batch 4 Year Old Bourbon is a genuinely solid pour that deserves more attention than it gets. It's not trying to be a 15-year-old single barrel, and it doesn't need to be. What it offers is a well-made, thoughtfully selected bourbon at a proof that shows real confidence from the distillery. At £60.95, you're paying a slight premium over some of the big Kentucky four-year-olds, but you're also getting something different — a craft bourbon from a region that's proving it can compete. I'm giving this a 7.9 out of 10. It's a bottle I'd happily keep on my shelf, and one I'd pour for someone who thinks they've already figured out what bourbon can be.
Best Served
This is a natural Old Fashioned bourbon. At 96 proof, it has the backbone to hold its own against a sugar cube, a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters, and a wide orange peel expressed over the top. The proof means the whiskey won't disappear behind the sweetener the way a lower-strength bourbon might. Build it over a single large ice cube, stir until properly chilled, and let it open up slowly as the ice does its work. If you prefer it neat, a few drops of room-temperature water will do the job without drowning it.
