July has evolved in to “American Whiskey Month” for the Crookes Whiskey Society, and having already tried a rye whiskey and an innovative oak-smoked bourbon in previous years we decided to try something a bit more traditional.
Mellow Corn is authentic American Corn Whiskey, a unique kind of straight whiskey that is rarely seen (except by hillbilly moonshiners, I guess).
As a corn whiskey, it must be at least 81% corn grain in the mashbill (the rest is malted barley, and rye) and unlike bourbon it can be aged in new un-charred or used charred barrels.
50% abv and under £25? let’s see how this works out…

http://www.heavenhill.com/

Cost: Under £25
70 cl / 50% ABV

Tasting Notes*

Nose: Waxy. Bright and brisk – heaps of vanilla taffy, dried banana, buttered sweetcorn, and honey. An uncomplicated and light aroma, but what’s there is nice. Dominated by notes of vanilla and corn there are some lighter, ethereal notes of spice, citrus, honey and a fruitiness that reminds me of Juicy Fruit gum

Palate: Mouth-coating oiliness that you could fry an egg in. A bit of ginger spice and warm spice wrapped around a soft, sweet core of vanilla taffy and banana. Moderate warmth and rustic corn grain edges. What does come across is pleasant. Vanilla taffy, and hot buttered popcorn lead the way with airy notes of toffee, spice and some citrus coming in behind.

Finish: Lively. The fruit, wood and caramel notes hang on in there. Longer finish than expected. Vanilla and bit of white pepper. Marshmallows and corn run it’s course on a medium finish.

*Tasting notes adapted from sour mash manifesto, The Whiskey Jug and Ian Buxton’s “101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die” – which was the inspiration for this choice.

Packaging

There was none, basically. Plastic cap. It looks cheap, but it has its own charm -perhaps because it has stuck with the same label it had back in 1945?

Verdict

Fearing the worst, given the strength and price and it’s association with moonshine, we were surprised by how smooth this is.
Some whiskies benefit from being nursed, and savoured thoughtfully over the course of the evening to allow their character develop and shine… this is not one of those, or at least, if it is it was also perfect for sharing between friends on a summer evening. A good, fun whiskey. And the 50% abv kept us warm long after the sun went down and the last embers of the barbecue died out.

Some of our members preferred this one (whisper it) over ice.