Maple | Oak | Caramel | Dark brown sugar | Cognac

Vanilla | Caramel | Oak | Maple

Maple | Thick oak | A lot of heat with a lingering maple aftertaste

Finishing bourbon in maple syrup barrels has quickly become a popular finishing style. It’s for good reason as the classic bourbon flavor notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak pair brilliantly with it. This continues to be the case with Boom Boom Bourbon. A tie-in with legendary boxer Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini will likely do little for the millennials and zoomers set, as it was well before their time. Regardless of who this whiskey is marketed to, it does little to temper its overall effect.

The whiskey is surprisingly layered and nuanced with its maple syrup barrel finish, putting it almost on equal footing with its vanilla, caramel, and oak notes. The Reserve Edition of Boom Boom Whiskey is offered at cask strength which dramatically ramps up its heat creating its biggest flaw. Adding water doesn’t do much to quell this heat, and instead dampers its overall flavor. Adding ice is perhaps a better route to go down as it offers a quick chill and a small amount of water to counter its heat without over dilution. Boom Boom Bourbon is produced by Cleveland Whiskey who became known for their rapid aging technique and the endless debate it spawned. Nevertheless, Boom Boom Bourbon doesn’t go for complexity. While it’s on the wrong side of hot, it keeps its maple syrup barrel finish from going overboard. The end result isn’t a whiskey without faults. It's an enjoyable sipper if you aren’t afraid to add a few rocks.    

The bottle being reviewed comes from Batch #1, bottle #2176.