Classification: Straight Whiskey
Company: Bluebird Distilling
Distillery: Bluebird Distilling
Release Date: February 2023
Proof: 86
Age: NAS (Blend of 6 & 7 year whiskeys per company press release)
Mashbill: Blend of Blue Bird whiskeys:
-90% 6 Year Bourbon: 75% Corn, 15% Heirloom Rye, 10% Barley
-10% 7 Year Red Winter Wheat Whiskey: 100% Whole Grain Pennsylvania Red Winter Wheat
Color: Medium Amber
MSRP: $50 (2023)
Creamed corn | Cotton candy | Bubble gum | Light oak | Pulls in different directions
Sweet caramel | Malty undertone | Grain-forward | Slightly underdeveloped | Hot but thin
Light spice | Grain-forward | Hint of caramel | Crisp wrap up
Combining bourbon and wheat whiskeys into one cohesive result is a challenge that Bluebird Days Whiskey bravely takes on, but ultimately doesn’t quite hit its mark.
Bluebird Distilling is located in Phoenixville, PA, which is a small town located about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The company was founded in 2015 by Jared Adkins, with the help of his father and close friend Pierre. Their range of products includes whiskey, bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskey, and includes variations such as Jamaican Bourbon, which is bourbon finished in ex-Jamaican rum barrels.
A “bluebird day” is a reference to a sunny or cloudless day, filled with a blue sky that often follows a night of snowfall. Taking the name of this whiskey from the company’s name, according to the press release Bluebird Days Whiskey is created by blending the distillery’s bourbon and wheat whiskeys into one single product, which is why it’s labeled as simply a “straight whiskey.” The aroma has a lot going on, and pulls the whiskey in multiple directions from sweet to oak to an unusual cotton candy scent. It’s a fun start to the whiskey, and there is more going on that’s hard to pinpoint. As you take a sip the whiskey immediately shows signs of being a bit underdeveloped, despite its relatively high age. It’s a grain-forwardness, which is not always a detriment, but in this case is reminiscent of earlier craft whiskey days. This carries over into the finish, which highlights a light spice and hint of caramel, though the grain-forwardness carries over as well. It has a crisp, clean ending, which is fine but doesn’t help the whiskey in any way.
Overall I love to try whiskeys from newer craft distilleries, and I like the concept of blending multiple types of whiskey together into one. However, Bluebird Days Whiskey leaves some room for improvement as it still carries a slightly grainy, underdeveloped overall undertone, which is likely attributed to the base distillate. It has a lot going on, and it’s priced quite well considering its age and being from a craft distillery, but doesn’t quite hit the mark I had hoped it would.