Light honey | Vanilla | Faint papaya | Cinnamon | Oak | Gentle

Green peppercorn | Rye spice | Oak | Dried tobacco leaf | Cinnamon stick | Nutmeg | Faint marshmallow

Green grape | Rye spice | Light cinnamon | Slight astringent oak | Vanilla cake

Terry Bradshaw had one of the most iconic and memorable careers in the history of professional football. Drafted number one overall in 1970, Bradshaw played for 14 seasons as the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He led the team to win four Super Bowls over the span of his career. In 2020, he stepped into the huddle again, this time trying to quarterback a new bourbon brand to market.

Originally released in early 2020, Bradshaw Flagship Bourbon has retained its proof and mashbill, but it has significantly increased in age. While the bottle forgoes an age statement, the website states that it’s aged 5-6 years. The question on everyone's mind will be if a football-branded bourbon has grown into a Super Bowl contender or is hunting to select early in the first round of the NFL draft?

The nose delivers a gentle aroma that brings in classic scents along with an intriguing hint of papaya. The midpoint is spice-forward with grounding oak and dried tobacco leaf trying to balance things out. Ending on classic notes, the bourbon also pulls in green grape and a slight astringent oak note before crisply wrapping things up. While Bradshaw Flagship Bourbon won’t be making the playoffs just yet, it’s clear it’s been spending time in the quarterback room studying up, as the sip the bourbon produces is slightly more elevated than the last time I reviewed it.

The bourbon in review is from batch #0013.