Distillery: Wyoming Whiskey – Kirby, Wyoming
Proof: 98 (49% ABV)
Age: Eight years
Mashbill: 68% Corn, 28% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
MSRP: $80
Website: https://wyomingwhiskey.com/
Who They Are
Wyoming doesn’t come to the top of my mind as a whiskey-making region. Instead, Wyoming conjures images of grandeur, mountains rising out of flatlands and geysers spewing from sulfur-stained grounds. Bison roaming unfettered and moose traversing across roadways. Cowboys and big blue skies that stretch as far as you can see. I picture incredible sunsets, thousands of stars, campfires, and storytelling.
Wyoming Whiskey, the first legal distillery in Wyoming, sold its first bottle in 2012. They have been going strong ever since.
At an elevation nearing 4300’ and temperature swings from 5°F winter lows to 135°F summer highs, Kirby, Wyoming is far different from what we typically consider an ideal environment for aging whiskey. But those wide temperature swings can be an advantage as well by forcing the whiskey to interact deeper and more often with the wood.
A large granite monolith that stands 130 feet tall, 1900 feet long, and 850 feet wide, Independence Rock was a significant landmark that guided travelers on the Oregon, Mormon, and California trails. According to the National Park Service, more than 5000 names are carved into the granite, giving the rock a nickname, “Register of the Desert.”
Independence Rock the bourbon borrows the name and pays homage to those early pioneers who traveled west.
If you give Wyoming Whiskey Independence Rock Bourbon a try or have questions, please drop me a note. I would love to hear from you. mike@bourboninspector.com;
Wyoming Whiskey Independence Rock Straight Bourbon: Tasting Notes
Nose – 3.75/5
The high wheat content does not disappoint as a burst of sweetness greets the nose. Delving deeper, there is a cherry vanilla complexity that is quite lovely. The balance and mixture of these aromas set a high expectation for the flavors that are to follow.
Palate – 4/5
There is a lot going on with the palate…a whole lot going on. It’s like a spinning pinwheel of delicacy, each blade unique from the others. A burst of orange creamsicle followed by spicy nuts, then chocolate cherry nibs.
Finish – 2.75/5
Rather unexpectedly, given the high wheat content, Independence Rock has a long and lingering finish. The chocolate cherry nibs on the palate give way to that slight nuttiness that is similarly present in nibs. The lingering spice diminishes, and a bittersweet aftertaste remains.
Value – 3/5
At $80 MSRP, Independence Rock is competing against many mid-to-upper-shelf expressions. While it easily competes in the $65 – $75 price range, $80 just crosses over the edge of the value boundary. That said, it is a limited release due to the higher age statement. But if you’ve been around BI for a while, then you know an age statement does not move the needle.
Wyoming Whiskey Independence Rock Straight Bourbon Review: The Verdict
Verdict – 3.38/5 (a $70 MSRP and this would easily be gold)
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.5 – 5
- Gold – 4 – 4.5
- Silver – 3 – 4
- Bronze – <3
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.