Paniolo Blended Whiskey Review

Lee Stang -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Hali’imaile Distilling Company, Hali’imaile, Hawaii (Maui)
  • MASH BILL: 3-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, blended with Hali’imaile Distilling’s Maui Gold Pineapple Distillate. The distillery would not reveal the source of the bourbon.
  • AGE: Aged 3 years after blending.
  • YEAR: 2016
  • PROOF: 80(40% ABV)
  • MSRP: $44.00

LEE'S NOTES

NOSE: Brown Sugar  |  Pineapple  |  Vanilla

TASTE: Vanilla  |  Hint of Brown Sugar  |  Pineapple  |  Wood

FINISH: The finish was very short and a little thin probably due to the low proof. It leaves a slight hint of pineapple on the tongue.

SHARE WITH: Assuming you can get a bottle I would share this with friends. I can see myself sitting on a beach in Hawaii sipping on this or passing around a bottle. Reminds me of a tropical beach. If you are an experienced bourbon drinker and like high proof bourbons, this might not fit your bill.

WORTH THE PRICE: The MSRP is $44.00. Certainly worth trying if you are in Hawaii or want to bring one back.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: With no distribution deals in place on the mainland and Hawaiian retail laws that prohibit the shipment of alcohol out of state, it’s virtually impossible to get a bottle on the mainland. If you are in Hawaii however it would be worth a try.

OVERALL: The nose on this whiskey is brown sugar for days. Unfortunately, it gets lost some on the palate which is a little thin. I do taste hints of pineapple, however. I could see myself sitting on a beach in Hawaii sipping on this whiskey and therefore the distillery has met their goal. Not something that I would want to drink every day but occasionally as a summer sipper, or at the beach, it would be refreshing. day with friends.

BRAND NOTES

Paniolo Blended Whiskey is the perfect balance of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, blended with Hali’imaile Distilling’s Maui Gold Pineapple Distillate. The Pineapple distillate, the same used in Hali’imaile Distilling’s Pau Maui Vodka, is distilled to neutral to allow for an extremely clean and smooth finish without any pineapple flavor.

Per Hali’imaile Distilling Company’s Master Distiller, Mark Nigbur, “When you start with something as pure as All-American Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, then finely tune it with just the right amount of our Maui Gold Pineapple distillate, you end up with a blended whiskey that any whiskey connoisseur would be proud to drink. We feel that we have created something truly unique with this offering. A perfect blend of mainland and the islands coming together for one outstanding product.”

PANIOLO BLENDED WHISKEY BACKGROUND INFO

A work colleague and friend from Hawaii, brought a bottle of this with her when she came to the east coast. We keep the bottle in a desk drawer for toasting contract awards. After reading the label and noticing the fact that it is three-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon I decided a more in-depth look was in order. While not available on the mainland US, they are looking for distributors. Those bourbon drinkers headed to Hawaii should give this a try.

According to their website, “Hali’imaile Distilling Company produces handcrafted, locally made, authentic Hawaiian brand spirits. We are located in the heart of Maui’s pineapple region, Upcountry Makawao, Maui. Our goal is to create ‘Hawaii in a Bottle.’”

Paniolo Blended Whiskey was created as a tribute to the Hawaiian Cowboy. Again from the website: “In the late 18th Century King Kamehameha the First was gifted cattle by Captain George Vancouver of the British Royal Navy. Mexican Vaqueros were brought to the Hawaiian Islands to control the cattle and break the Pupule (wild horses). These Vaqueros embraced the Hawaiian tradition and became known as Paniolo. In the Spirit of the Hawaiian Cowboy, Paniolo Whiskey brings mainland history and Island Tradition together once again.”