Strong caramel | Cherry | Vanilla | Cinnamon streusel | Very potent

Fruit punch | Caramel | Raisin | Honey | Butter

Rye spice | Oak | Spicy caramel | Fresh bread | Light dryness | Lingering spice

The Undisputed is the fourth release and second ongoing one under the Puncher’s Chance brand by Wolf Spirit, out of Eugene, Oregon. According to the company’s press release, “We were really trying to achieve something different with The Undisputed: how to capture the intense flavor of a cask-strength whiskey but make it a bit more approachable for a wider audience.”

That goal is somewhat achieved with The Undisputed as it is quite flavorful for 108 proof whiskey. While not totally relying on spice to achieve its intensity goal, there’s a very pronounced caramel note throughout this bourbon. Traditionalists will enjoy that aspect of it, while the manageable fruit punch note in its palate adds some much needed excitement. The Undisputed pulls from two worlds. There’s a very traditional core centered on caramel, oak, and rye spice, which is offset by some more nuanced flavors of honey, butter, fresh bread, and the aforementioned fruit punch note. While flavorful, there isn’t one particular flavor outside of caramel that completely stands out. The Undisputed definitely isn’t a beginner’s bourbon but one I see that could act as a great next step into more complex bourbon territory. With an expanded flavor profile that is careful not to go overboard at any one point, The Undisputed is approachable while slightly ramping up complexity.

The bottle in review is from Rickhouse D, Rick #557.