O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

Jim Knudsen -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged and bottled by Brown Water Spirits LLC.
  • MASH BILL: Not Disclosed other than referring to it as a “wheated mash bill”.
  • AGE: NAS - No Age Statement, straight bourbon, presume to be a minimum of 4 years old.
  • YEAR: 2022
  • PROOF: 105 Proof (52.5 % ABV)
  • DISTILLATION: Distilled in Indiana (presumably MGP sourced)
  • MSRP: $69.99

JIMS' REVIEW

SHARE WITH: Drink very curious bourbon fans, particularly those interested in different types of aging technique claims.  Oceans, music, river aging, and in particular cranberry bogs.

WORTH THE PRICE:  At $69.99 which is less expensive than the other River Aged expression, but still on the steep side for a non-age statement bourbon.  I think this would be in the ballpark with about twice its maturity.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I cannot recommend a bottle, but it is not what I would call a bust.   If you see it in a bar, depending on the price of the pour, that would be the best way to try it.

OVERALL: From tasting O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon, I stand by my guess of it being MGP sourced, which is good.  It has the sweet caramel taste of a wheated bourbon with a reasonable depth of other flavors such as apple, grain, and oak.  The nose is similarly sweet with the fruit and floral in the background.  It finishes reasonably long with graininess and oak lingering. It does benefit from the addition of a few drops of water.

This is my second review of O.H. Ingram River Aged Whiskey and like the first, while somewhat skeptical on the “river aging” technique, I am not disappointed with the taste and quality of the spirit.  It is somewhat young and should improve with age.  Being a long-time fan of MGP products, the provenance of the distillate does not disappoint.

I did contact the distillery’s marketing firm for more information, which was not very enlightening.  While I understand that the casual bourbon drinker does not really care, we who take our passion a little more seriously, really appreciate more transparency on the specifics (at least as the sourcing contracts will allow). All that being said, it was not a bad whiskey, and worth trying.

BRAND TASTING NOTES

Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 105

On the Nose: Apples, cherries, oak, floral, honey

Mouthfeel: Viscous, warm

Palate: Citrus, almond, cinnamon spice, oak

Finish: A medium finish with vanilla, caramelized sugar, and hints of leather

O.H. INGRAM RIVER AGED RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR WITH THE RELEASE OF STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEYFourth Ingram River Aged Expression Released Since Company’s October 2020 Launch

NASHVILLE (January 4, 2021) – Brown Water Spirits LLC, the maker of O.H. Ingram River Aged, today announced the release of its fourth expression, Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Since launching with one product in its home base of Nashville in October 2020, Ingram River Aged now has four expressions available in nearly 20 states.

The release of the Straight Bourbon Whiskey comes on the heels of Ingram River Aged’s market expansion into Louisiana and the launch of the Ingram River Aged Flagship Bourbon in August.

“The release of our much-anticipated wheated Straight Bourbon is the perfect start to what will be a big year
for O.H. Ingram,” said Founder Hank Ingram. “Since launching just over a year ago, it’s been fantastic to see how our story has resonated with folks searching for something unique in a crowded whiskey market. It’s a daily joy to see the enthusiasm grow as folks come back to replenish their shelves. As we hunker down in these colder months, I’m sure people will agree the Straight Bourbon is a needed addition to any bar.”

O.H. Ingram River Aged is the only whiskey in the world aged inside a proprietary floating rickhouse. Moored on the Mississippi River in Ballard County, Kentucky, Ingram River Aged is matured in a way that no landlocked rickhouse can accomplish. The dramatic rise and fall of the Mighty Mississippi, along with intense temperature and humidity swings, provoke an intense interaction between barrel and spirit and a whiskey like no other. The rickhouse is moored at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers where the rushing water ensures this whiskey never stops working, creating a mature taste well beyond its years. You can see full details about the process here.

The first expression in the Ingram River Aged Series, Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey, formally launched in October of 2020, followed by Ingram River Aged Straight Rye in December 2020 and Ingram River Aged Flagship Bourbon in August 2021. Now, Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey joins the fleet.

Hank has a long familiarity with using the river to achieve something special. His great-great-great-grandfather first discovered the power of the rushing river over 150 years ago when he founded the Empire Lumber Company, which shipped lumber down the Chippewa and Mississippi Rivers. That expanded into a barge-centered shipping company that is an industry leader to this day. O.H. Ingram River Aged is just the latest chapter in a rich family history on the inland waterways.

"AT 105 PROOF, OUR WHEATED MASHBILL TRULY SHINES IN THIS BOURBON. THE RESULT IS A SWEET, BOLD PROFILE WITH A LINGERING YET SMOOTH FINISH."
HANK INGRAM - FOUNDER, O.H. INGRAM RIVER AGED

Disclaimer: Brown Water Spirits LLC provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.