Grain | Light toffee | Straw | Green apple | Honey

Corn | Toffee | Hibiscus | Jasmine | Youthful | Thin bodied

Light sugared pecans | Touch of dark brown sugar | Short

When you see a bourbon named “Good Fucking Bourbon” you kind of know what to expect. Companies that go for this type of branding are typically style over substance, shock value for the sake of it, and ultimately offer a product that falls short of whatever little expectations you may have for it. It’s a business plan that relies on impulse purchasing and is geared towards getting a customer to buy a single bottle with little hope of a follow up purchase. And if they do end up going back for a second bottle, hey that’s even better.

Good Fucking Bourbon is sourced by GF Brands from Panther Distillery, located in Osaskis, Minnesota. Distilled using a copper pot still with a high 30% wheat with no rye or malted barley whatsoever in its mashbill, and aged for 4 years, the recipe in theory provides the foundation for a potentially decent tasting bourbon. It’s odd that it isn’t labeled straight, but maybe Good Fucking Bourbon doesn’t need to be straight to be fucking good.

The bourbon opens with a grain-forward aroma. Toffee, straw, green apple, and honey are present but the potency of the aroma never moves beyond light, and the individual scents lack impact as a result. The rest of the sip has a similar intensity, and while some of that probably has to do with the bourbon’s 80 proof point, the whiskey just doesn’t have much weight to its body. The palate is corn heavy and youthful, with a caramel and floral focus. The short finish features lightly sugared pecans and dark brown sugar that is pleasant and approachable.

The main fault of the bourbon is that it simply isn’t developed enough. Tasting blind, I’d guess this was aged under 2 years, as it lacks body and depth of flavor, along with providing an overly short finish. I imagine GF Brands knows their potential audience and they may be drinkers who don’t have a lot of experience with bourbon. They may not recognize the bourbon’s perceived youth and lack of depth and complexity. Because of its overall lightness, both in taste and proof, some will find this easy sipping and approachable. Most though will certainly not call it a good fucking bourbon.