Distillery: MGP
Proof: 115.78
Age: No Age Statement
Mashbill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Price: ~$80
Company
The company behind Smoke Wagon, Nevada H&C Distilling Co., was founded in Las Vegas in 2012. They source their bourbon from the famous MGP distillery in Indiana.
Production
According to their website, Uncut and Unfiltered is made with the same vintage blending philosophy as Small Batch (a blend of young bourbons with old that are aged in the Nevada desert) but with a goal of obtaining a higher-proof bourbon that tastes best neat. There is no water added.
Nose – 95/100
The nose is full of rich caramel, apple, and cinnamon. It smells like a fresh-baked apple pie.
Palate – 92 /100
Starts sweet with notes of dark fruit and caramel, then quickly fades into rye spice. Lots of flavors happening all at once.
Finish – 92/100
The finish is long with notes of leather, tobacco, and oak.
Value – 90/100
At its $65 MSRP, Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered is a solid buy. Especially if you like rye-heavy bourbons. It has much more flavor and character than the Small Batch expression.
But I found my bottle for $80, and I’ve even seen it priced over $100 before. I personally don’t think it’s worth that kind of markup. At the $80 you could buy some incredible bottles like Knob Creek 12 Year.
Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered is great for a one-time purchase just to try it at $80 if you like bourbons with more rye (or like the Small Batch). And it’s a great bottle to have in your bourbon bar if you can get it for $65.
As with most things in the bourbon world, it’s all about the price you find it at and your taste preferences.
But all in all, it’s a great and unique pour.
Verdict – 92.25/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.