Vanilla | Brown sugar | Oak | Sweet cinnamon apple | Nutmeg | Light tobacco leaf

Brown sugar | Vanilla syrup | Cinnamon stick | Sweet cream | Rye spice

Light oak | Sweet cinnamon syrup | Light rye spice | Short

Brothers Wright Distilling Co. was founded by brothers Shannon and Kendall Wright. Operating out of Pikeville and Aflex, Kentucky, the company embraces their Appalachian roots by aging its barrels in underground coal mines. The company ages their barrels in Leckie Collieries Mine No. 1, with hundreds already laid down and room for thousands more. The company states that “our process is a tribute to  the ingenuity, grit, and craftsmanship of Central Appalachia — a region we are proud to call home.” While the bottle in review was sourced, with the company’s recent acquisition of Dueling Barrels Brewery & Distillery, it’s presumed that they’ll begin to move production in-house.

Coal mine temperatures can vary significantly, with geothermal heat becoming an issue as the mine’s depth increases. While Brothers Wright doesn’t say how far down the mine their barrels are aged, compared to a standard rickhouse, they’re certainly presenting a different type of aging environment. How much that actually impacts their barrels is unclear. It would be fascinating to compare the aging of a large number of barrels split between the mine and a traditional rickhouse. For now, these coal mine-aged single barrels can only be compared to each other.

This particular single barrel focuses on a dearth of sweet notes, which is evident right from the get-go. Scents of vanilla, brown sugar, and sweet cinnamon apple meld with oak and light tobacco leaf. The sweetness carries over to the midpoint thanks to brown sugar, vanilla syrup, cinnamon stick, and sweet cream. The finish is lackluster and short, and delivers quick hits of light oak and rye spice, along with sweet cinnamon syrup. Even though it’s a high rye bourbon, the sip has a simple overall sweet composition, yet that shouldn’t dissuade you. Overall, this is an easy-drinking, pleasing sip that is simple yet enjoyable.

The bourbon in review is bottle number 84 from barrel number 010.