Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Off Hours Spirits
Distillery: MGP
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 95
Age: NAS (Website states 4 years)
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Color: Dark Gold
MSRP: $47 (2021)
Agave | Slight dill | Light caramel | Olive oil | French oak
Fresh Honey | Peach | Spearmint | Floral | Faint coconut
Montmorency cherries | Tropical fruit | Green tea
Foregoing the usual contrived and sometimes embellished backstories so many bourbon brands lean on to convince would-be buys of their deep bourbon heritage, Off Hours Bourbon does the complete opposite. With full transparency of their bourbon’s sourced origin, age and mashbill, Off Hours Bourbon instead markets to the next generation of bourbon drinkers that are oftentimes overlooked (and often don’t even care about such details). Skewing towards modern design and simple messaging, Off Hours Spirit has no pretensions that prevent them from suggesting drinkers do whatever they want with their bourbon: drink it straight, on the rocks, or even with Coke. This attitude and a hard focus on millennial and upcoming gen Z bourbon drinkers is forward thinking and the bourbon industry will probably see much more of it in the near future.
As for those familiar with MGP bourbon, Off Hours Bourbon has a surprisingly unique spin on the company’s typical flavor profile. Lacking any youthful notes and at the same time, many oak notes either, the focus on more herbal and floral ones. With a touch of fruit mingled in, the flavor profile is approachable and easy sipping. Unique without being offensive, and a distinctiveness contrasting the tried and true, Off Hours Bourbon doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but finds a happy middle ground for all to enjoy.