Heavy sweet corn syrup | Light grain | Sweet & youthful

Sweet corn | Light oak | Light grain | Light vanilla | Touch of toasted brown sugar | Sweet but youthful

Sweet corn | Light rye spice | Vanilla | Peppercorn bite | Simmering heat

Louisiana Tradition Copper Tear Bourbon is produced by NOLA Distillery out of New Orleans. Whether it’s due to the climate the barrels are aged in, or the fact that it uses a high corn mashbill, Louisiana Tradition Copper Tear Bourbon doesn’t come across as your typical bourbon. While high corn mashbills aren’t unusual for bourbons, Louisiana Tradition Copper Tear Bourbon is so corn forward that it comes across as a corn whiskey versus a bourbon. It’s actually surprising to me that the company didn’t up the corn percentage to 80% so that it could legally be labeled a corn whiskey, because it would compete decently well in that category. As a bourbon, however, it lacks the depth that most whiskey drinkers will be expecting.

The sip opens with a nose that gives off the impression that it’s a corn whiskey due to its almost one-dimensional focus on sweet corn syrup scents. The palate carries forward the focus of sweet corn and adds touches of light oak, grain, and vanilla that contribute a little dimension but also come across as youthful. The finish brings forward a bit of definition with the welcome addition of rye spice and a peppercorn bite but isn’t enough to right the ship. In the end, this is a supremely corn-heavy bourbon that is more akin to a corn whiskey like Mellow Corn. It will please those who seek out this type of flavor profile but doesn’t showcase much depth for a bourbon.

The bottle being reviewed is number 1251 from batch 01.