Brother's Bond Straight Bourbon Review

Patrick "Pops" Garrett -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Bottled and distributed by Brother's Bond Distilling Company. Bourbon is sourced from MGP.
  • MASH BILL: A four-grain, high-rye straight bourbon whiskey with a mash bill of 65% corn, 22% rye, 13%wheat and barley. 135 barrels per batch.
  • AGE: Minimum of 4 years old.
  • YEAR: 2023
  • PROOF: 80 Proof (40% ABV)
  • MSRP: $44
  • BUY ONLINE: Reserve Bar

POPS' NOTES

SHARE WITH: Folks that prefer something on the lighter side of bourbon and have money to burn.

WORTH THE PRICE: Not even close. It's a solid bourbon for those who like lower-proof bourbons that go easy on the taste buds, but it's way overpriced compared to what you can get on the market for less money.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Folks who dislike big, bold bourbons will enjoy this 80-proof expression, but at $40 a bottle, you better try it at a bar first. Those who prefer to drink 100 proof and above to get a bolder bourbon flavor experience should skip this one entirely.

OVERALL: I can't recall the last time I drank an 80-proof bourbon. So you can imagine my surprise when I took my first sip of Brother's Bond Straight Bourbon bottled at 80 proof. (Did I mention that I didn't even look at the label before I tried it?)

If someone had been watching me, I'm sure they would have described my face as confused and concerned, as I was not expecting it to be at such low proof. My bad for the lack of preparation.

That said, there's nothing wrong with drinking low-proof bourbon. It's just not my thing anymore. I gravitate toward higher-proof offerings that deliver a bolder flavor experience. But if I were to consume bourbon at the minimum bottle entry proof allowed, Brother's Bond flavor profile would be more than acceptable– even if the price is not.

The nose is soft and sweet, with layers of corn, honey, and baked bread. There's a nice punch of rye spice to keep it from being too sweet, and some oak spice and nuttiness further balance out the combination. The palate brings more of the same with the addition of dried fruits and black tea on the finish. It's a nicely balanced bourbon that goes extremely easy on the palate.

I would love to add this to my list of recommendations for those who have just started getting into bourbon, but I can't do it at $40 a bottle. You'd be better off buying a lower-priced bourbon with higher proof and adding some water to bring the proof down to a similar level.

BRAND NOTES

The dawn of your new bourbon has arrived. Brother's Bond, created by Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, known as "The Salvatore Brothers" from the famed TV series, "The Vampire Diaries." The true bonds of their friendship strengthened over drinking bourbon, both on and off-screen, for over a decade.

The brand name is a nod to their on-screen characters, their shared love for great bourbon, and a reflection of the sense of brotherhood they have formed over the years. They crafted this hand-selected batch, distilled and aged in the tradition of all great bourbons. Time to bond. Cheers, Ian & Paul.

A four-grain, high rye bourbon whiskey; 68% corn, 22% rye, wheat and barley is our secret. Copper column and copper pot-doubler distillation. Aged a minimum of 4 years in virgin American oak; barrel staves #4 char; barrel heads #2 char.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.