It’s always fun to have a brand that bucks the system. Seelbach’s is always focused on doing things our own way. Even when it’s in contradiction with traditional methods. Joshua Thinnes at Subtle Spirits embraces that same mentality. Joshua is no stranger to the Bourbon world. He’s been active in various communities for over a decade. He was also the buyer at a influential spirits store in San Francisco for 11-years. These bottles nail the important things. They’re delicious. The next steps can be as important. Subtle Spirits was created to combine his love of art and whiskey. Each release features an artist. Each bottle captures Subtle’s journey through the spirits world. While I think most brands “about” sections are fluff, this one resonates.
The two barrels from the
HODL series were acquired at the same time as the Mystic Oak barrels we released back in May. They were distilled at MGP in Indiana from a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. While barrel #20 is Joshua’s personal favorite of the lot, barrel #22 spent its final 18 months finishing in a French oak barrel that previously held Cabernet Sauvignon if a finished bourbon is more your fancy.
Barrel #20 (green wax):
Sweet, savory, and spicy; this connoisseur’s bourbon is not for the faint of heart. There is a funky backbeat to this whiskey, showing aromas of browned butter, dried papaya, and cured oak. The wafts of alcohol that permeate are quickly overpowered by fresh caramel, butterscotch, and tropical fruits like calamansi and green plantains. The palate is alive and intense with a chewy texture and a mouth-watering spicy finish that leaves you buzzing and wanting more.
Barrel #22 (red wax):
Vanilla bean, caramel, and dried red fruits make themselves apparent in the nose as soon as they hit the glass. With a little time, these red fruits develop deeper into a raisin quality. The aromas of grape are subtle and expertly interwoven into an array of classic bourbon flavors all sewn together with a finesse that only French oak can bring. The palate is gentle, silky, and very smooth, leaving you doubting its true alcohol weight, all while punching way above its class. If Macallan 12 and a Four Roses OBSQ barrel made a baby while vacationing in Indiana, this is what it would taste like.
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There is nothing subtle about our spirit, and from the beginning, we knew we had to do it differently. Our spirits aren’t intended to be categorized, they are meant to be experienced. With each release, we capture a place in time, dynamic like the artist whose work is featured on the bottle. Each one is personal to us because they represent real moments or ideas in our life, our story unfolding in real-time.
