Tropical fruits | Stone fruits | Cinnamon | Clove | Caramel | Tobacco | Light overall

Floral undertone | Cinnamon | Honey | Stone fruits | Light mouthfeel | Bright & lively flavors

Baking spices | Clove | Stone fruits | Short & crisp

Peg Leg Porker Spirits was founded in 2013 by Carey Bringle and is located in Nashville, Tennessee. Bringle lost a leg to bone cancer at the age of 17, and then turned his focus to competitive barbecue, which ultimately inspired the company name. Bringle opened Peg Leg Porker BBQ in 2013, and the whiskey and barbecue businesses grew alongside one another. The company has historically sourced barrels for its products; however, in 2022, it obtained a DSP number and announced plans for a distillery under the name Teal Hollow Distillery. For this release, the whiskey was distilled by Peg Leg Porker Spirits at Tennessee Distilling Group, which is a major contract distiller located in Columbia, Tennessee.

Peg Leg Porker Spirit of America: America’s 250th Birthday is a limited edition, commemorative bourbon released in celebration of the nation’s milestone, a popular phenomenon among whiskey brands. Spirit of America is a bottled-in-bond bourbon, which is fitting for the occasion given the country’s history with distillation and the emergence of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the United States’ first-ever consumer protection law and one that is also tied to the taxation of whiskey. Like other Peg Leg Porker bourbons, it is filtered through hickory charcoal after it comes out of the barrel, which is intended to strip harsher notes and soften the whiskey.

The bourbon is very bright and crisp, with a characteristically light flavor profile. If there was ever a definition of a “summery” flavor profile, it would be this. Tropical and stone fruit scents rest on top of  a floral base, but the bourbon remains grounded with familiar caramel, honey, and baking spices notes peppered in. Hints of clove and tobacco contrast the fruitier notes, making for a more dynamic experience.

The combination of flavors leans more drinkable than noteworthy in terms of where it lands on the uniqueness spectrum, which is largely due to its light and approachable delivery. However, its bright and crisp flavor profile is notable, and factoring in that it’s bottled-in-bond and affordable at $60 makes for a compelling case for a bottle to snatch up for summer get-togethers and some history to go with it.