DSR – SC – 004: Six & Twenty Old Money Wheat Whiskey
Company/Distillery: Six and Twenty Distillery
Location: Piedmont – South Carolina
Mash Bill: Soft Red Winter Wheat and Barley
Age Statement: No Age Statement, distillery website indicates 3 years old.
Proof/ABV: 80 Proof/40% ABV
Color & Viscosity: The color of this offering from Six & Twenty is light golden to straw-like. Swirling the whiskey around the glass produces a medium thick viscous line. Thick oily legs quickly release and flow down the sides into the belly of the tasting vessel.
Purchase Price: $39.99 from the Chastain’s Wine, Beer, and Spirits – March 2021
Bottle Label Information:
Front Label
“Six & Twenty”
“Old Money Wheat Whiskey”
Rear Label
“Whiskey inspired America’s greatest achievements. Whiskey electrified America. Whiskey hardened steel, laid railroads, and struck oil. This single cask whiskey, made from South Carolina soft red winter wheat and aged in new charred oak barrels, inspires creations that transcend generations. Taste the rich flavor, feel the rich smoothness, own the rich heritage that is Old Money.”
“Proudly distilled and bottled by: Six & Twenty Distillery, Piedmont – South Carolina”
Distillery Background
Six & Twenty Distillery
Six & Twenty Distillery, located just outside of Greenville, South Carolina, is a veteran-owned business founded in 2011 by David Raad and Farmer Redmond. The pair met at Clemson University where they played rugby together. Before starting Six & Twenty Distillery with David Raad, Mr. Redmond’s claim to fame was that he is a descendent of infamous South Carolina Moonshiner, Major Lewis Redmond. Mr. Raad recognized a need for homegrown, high quality spirits in South Carolina, so he teamed up with his old teammate to try and provide exactly that to the Greenville area.
Six & Twenty Distillery is named after a 1700’s legend of a Choctaw Indian maiden named Issaqueena, who fell for Englishman Alan Francis. Eventually, Issaqueena was captured by the Cherokee and overheard a plan by the tribe to overtake Francis’ trading post. Legend has it that, in an effort to warn Francis, Issaqueena escaped on horseback. Along her ride, she would name landmarks to help identify them. One of those landmarks was the Six & Twenty Creek, located near the present day distillery, and was named because it was located about twenty six miles from the Cherokee village. (Source: Greenville Online)
In 2020, Raad would attend the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) Accelerate Program. This program assists veterans in identifying areas within their business that need tweaking, in an effort to achieve sustainable growth. As a result of his involvement in this program, Raad was invited to Dallas, Texas to participate in Institute of Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) Veteran EDGE Conference. At the end of the conference, after competing in the Accelerate Challenge, Raad was awarded the Disabled American Veterans’ Arthur H. and Mary E. Wilson Top Venture Impacting Veterans Award and its accompanying $10,000 prize. (Source: Upstate Business Journal.com)
Current product offerings at Six & Twenty Distillery include Six & Twenty 5-Grain Bourbon Whiskey, Six & Twenty Old Money Wheat Whiskey, Six & Twenty Carolina Cream, Heirloom Rye Vodka, Six & Twenty Avena Oat Whiskey, and Heirloom Straight Rye Whiskey.
Six & Twenty Old Money Wheat Whiskey
Six & Twenty Old Money Wheat Whiskey, the distillery’s first aged product, is made using their base wheat whiskey recipe which consists of a mash bill of soft red winter wheat and barley. The whiskey is then aged in new charred oak barrels for 3 years before being bottled at 80 proof from a single cask. Mr. Raad set out to create a whiskey that his wife would enjoy drinking alongside of him and the result is Old Money Wheat Whiskey!
Tasting Notes
Tasting Date/Vessel: March 14, 2021 – Neat in Glencairn Glass; Then with a few drops of distilled water.
Nose
Christian: A quick nose of the whiskey in the bottle brings a gentle breath of freshly made bread dough. A sweet delicate nose follows from the Glencairn glass. My first pass of the glass renders a quick hint similar to Juicy Fruit chewing gum. I allow the glass to breathe some and go back for a second pass. This time, a light aroma of caramel syrup and vanilla really rise to the top and is accompanied by an ever so light touch of cinnamon. Wow! The addition of distilled water really opens up this pour. Sweet, rich caramel sauce and brown sugar dominate the nose. Smells much like a dessert.
Mike: A nice fruitiness wafts from the brim of the glass. The sweet smell of a fresh stick of Juicy Fruit gum is very pleasant and nostalgic. Aromas of warm pancakes smothered in maple syrup emerge after swirling the glass and slowly drawing it to my nose. Allowing the whiskey to settle offers soft brown sugar and oatmeal flavors, along with a light touch of cinnamon. Arriving very late and exceptionally muted is a touch of honey, nothing really floral, just plain store bought honey.
Mouth
Christian: This whiskey is very soft and delicate with a thin consistency on the tongue. On my palate, the whiskey flavor profile is sweet but very light. The first flavors I notice are a hint of leather, clover honey, and a very faint hint of oak char. I give my glass a gentle swirl and take an additional sip. This time I notice cereal grains in the forefront, similar to the flavor of Raisin Brand Cereal, along with a touch of cinnamon oatmeal. The addition of water seems to really tamper the flavor profile here. Sweet clover honey is the main note now, but leather really tries to sneak into the picture as well.
Mike: Old Money Wheat Whiskey starts out very thin on the lips and tip of the tongue. A rush of young heat coats the palate and attacks the back of the throat quickly. The mouthfeel is sweet overall. Touches of honey and oatmeal present mid-palate but fade swiftly. This whiskey does not offer a very complex mouth but I do find it easy and enjoyable to sip.
Finish
Christian: Old Money Wheat Whiskey has a short to medium finish as would be expected with the proof. A subtle warming sensation develops late, deep in the chest. Caramel, honey, and wheat bread are all present in the finish. As the flavors dissipate, I notice a very gentle sweetness of tobacco, mixed berries, and light leather in the very back of this pour. The addition of distilled water really kills what finish this pour offered. There is a dry bitterness that rises to the top, from the oak barrel, and is joined by a light touch of pipe tobacco. The warming sensation is sadly gone.
Mike: The finish is mild and short. There is a soothing warmth that begins in the lower throat and quickly finishes in the upper chest. Lingering on the palate is an essence of fresh rolled oats with a faint suggestion of brown sugar and dry cinnamon.
Our Rating
Final Thoughts
Christian: Mike and I have not had much success tasting whiskies from South Carolina. As a result, we went into this one with low expectations. I am glad to admit that I was pleasantly surprised at what Six & Twenty Old Money Wheat Whiskey has to offer. This is a smooth and delicate pour that offers nuanced flavors that are sweet and pleasant. This whiskey will neither knock your socks off with a punch of flavor, nor will it overpower you with young ethanol heat. It is a well-balanced pour that would be a quality sipping whiskey on a hot summer day. Priced at $39.99, this pour is a little more money than I would like to spend considering the proof, however, it is not far out of line with the prices of most craft distilleries today.
Rating: 2.88 Rickhouses
Mike: This offering from Six & Twenty is simple and that is not at all a negative trait for what we sampled today. I quite enjoyed the overall flavor profile of this wheat whiskey. It has an easy drinkability with just enough flavor to be appreciated at its low bottling proof. I didn’t add any water to this and don’t think anyone should, considering it is bottled at 80 proof. Just drink it neat and appreciate it for what it is. This bottle took a hit during the review process and I will be picking another next time I’m in South Carolina.
Rating: 3.13 Rickhouses
