Cranberry | Black cherry | Red currant | Charred oak | Sundried tomato | Roasted corn | Earthy

White peppercorn | Cinnamon spice | Charred oak | Cranberry | Dark cherry

Dry charred oak | Roasted corn | Vanilla bean | Leather

High Wire Distilling is located in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded by husband-and-wife team Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall, High Wire Distilling makes small batch spirits distilled in a hand-hammered, German copper still. The company’s flagship product is Jimmy Red, which is made from 100% Jimmy Red corn and is grown by Turnbridge Farm in Darlington, South Carolina. Jimmy Red corn is a rare heirloom grain, a “varietal that the brand has worked tirelessly to bring back from the brink of extinction."

High Wire Distilling has been a slow and steady story of hard work and sticking with it. When Jimmy Red Bourbon first hit the scene, bourbon drinkers didn’t know what to expect. But we’ve seen more brands adopt Jimmy Red corn into their mashbills and, like High Wire, have produced great results.

Boldness is a common theme with Jimmy Red corn bourbon. This bourbon’s aroma is robust, and ample red fruits emanate from the glass. The palate’s white peppercorn, cinnamon spice, charred oak, cranberry, and dark cherry don’t sound all that impressive on paper, but by taste, it’s bold. Likewise, the finish hits you with a big dry oak note at its onset, with roasted corn, vanilla bean, and leather following.

If you like bold bourbons, “Notorious C.O.B.” is aptly named, with big red fruit, roasted corn notes, and pepper spice. It could use some more dimension and a little less dryness, but overall, it makes up for it with its uniqueness.

The bottle in review is number 126 out of 173.