SHORT REVIEW: Stellum Black Bourbon – Cask Strength

Produced by Stellum Spirits, which is owned by Barrell Craft Spirits, this cask strength bourbon is a blend of distillates sourced from undisclosed sources in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee – 3 straight MGP bourbons and 2 older bourbons.  Though the mash bills are undisclosed, Stellum confirms that 2 are “high rye” and 1 is “almost exclusively corn.”  There is no age statement and it is chill filtered before being bottled at 109.22 proof (54.61% ABV).  The bourbons are blended “slowly, through a multi-step blending process.”

This review is based on multiple separate notes-taking sessions over 9 months using Denver & Liely Bourbon and Glencairn glasses with varying resting/aeration times in the glass.

COLOR: Amber gold

AROMA PROFILE: Wonderfully sweet nose – caramel, vanilla, toffee, maple syrup, baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, hint of cloves), light oak/barrel notes, nuttiness, light tobacco leaf, white orchard fruits & fresh figs, & honey/honeysuckle.

PALATE: Sweet profile – sweet caramel & vanilla followed quickly by prominent oak/barrel notes and rye spice, black pepper, & baking spices (dominated by cinnamon) sprinkled over dried apple slices.

It starts off quite sweet but ends with a drying effect and with a powerful note of black pepper and rye spice with ethanol warmth from the cask strength proof.  However, the sweet notes remain throughout and meld well with the spice and oak/barrel notes.

FINISH: 6-7 seconds

MOUTHFEEL/VISCOSITY: Fantastic, long viscosity in the glass & a viscous mouthfeel

VALUE:  Bargain cask strength bourbon at $40 in my market – versatile as a sipper or a mixer

ALWAYS ON SHELF/BUY AGAIN?  Yes

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