Journeyman Distillery Pit-Spitter Cherry Flavored Whiskey at 35% ABV — the question is whether it delivers on its promise. I sat down with a pour to find out.
Nose
The nose opens with oak and cranberry but soon evolves into the full cherry scent. There is a sweet, slightly medicinal quality to the strong cherry infusion.
Palate
This isnt the type of whiskey Id drink straight, but trying it in different cocktails yielded good results. In a Manhattan, the flavor of cherry felt too concentrated and felt imbalanced against the sweetness of the vermouth. In a highball, the dilution of the soda water smoothed out the flavor and the lemon hint complimented the now-subtle cherry excellently. Combined with a low proof, it made for a relaxed sipping experience. In a whiskey sour, my personal favorite, I thought the cherry infusion played very well into the sweet pucker and it had the right taste of a tart candy.rnrnIf youre a straight whiskey drinker, I wouldnt expect this to change your mind about flavored whiskeys. Still, I could see myself keeping a bottle on hand in case I need to make a cocktail with a memorable twist.
Finish
The taste is dominated by the cherry flavor, but I can still feel the bready base of the wheat whiskey used as a base. The cherry starts honey-sweet with hints of tart apple fruit, but the taste of cherry intensifies into the finish. It leaves a syrupy mouthfeel thats cloying in its sweetness. A little water smooths out the feel and emphasizes the tartness. Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Journeyman Distillery Pit-Spitter Cherry Flavored Whiskey is a perfectly respectable whiskey that does what it sets out to do. — it will not blow your mind, but it will not disappoint you either. A reliable choice.
