DSR – VA – 025: Triple Deuce 222 Wheat Whiskey
Company/Distillery: Blue Sky Distillery
Location: Smithfield, VA
Mash Bill: 100% Local Virginia Wheat
Age Statement: Stored More Than 1 Day in Reused Cooperage
Proof/ABV: 90 Proof/45% ABV
Color & Viscosity: This whiskey entices the drinker with its mahogany hue in the bottle, transitioning to auburn once it is poured into the glass. A medium viscous line develops into a thick lip, forming droplets that create very slow legs.
Purchase Price: $29.79 at a VA ABC Store for 750 ml bottle
Bottle Label Information:
Front Label
TRIPLE DEUCE
222
Whiskey
DISTILLED FROM WHEAT
SMALL BATCH RESERVE
Back Label
TRIPLE DEUCE WHISKEY
Rev up your engine with TRIPLE DEUCE Whiskey! TRIPLE DEUCE pays tribute to American muscle cars and the famed triple 2-barrel carburetor setup known as the “Triple Deuce.” Crafted from wheat, TRIPLE DEUCE Whiskey is aged with oak to produce a smooth spirit that tastes great straight; on ice; or with your favorite mixer.
Distilled & Bottled by: Blue Sky Distillery Smithfield, VA
Stored more than 1 day in reused cooperage
Distillery Background
Blue Sky Distillery
Blue Sky Distillery was founded in 2016 by Mark and Kim Rangos. The distillery is located in Smithfield, Virginia near Norfolk and Newport News in the Hampton Roads region. Smithfield and Isle of Wright County are known for their agricultural acumen when it comes to tobacco, cotton, peanuts, soy, corn, and of course, ham.
The Rangos launched the distillery on the location co-occupied by Spring Lake Bottled Water Company of Isle also of Wright County. The location was a natural fit due to the need for a high quality water supply in the process of distilling spirits. As of November 2023, the distillery is actively in the process of moving locations.
Prior to opening the distillery, Mark Rangos, a West Virginia University Grad, worked primarily in marketing, sales, and product support for several heavy duty construction equipment companies. The production of beer, wine, and spirits was in the Rangos blood. A trip to Ireland in 2015 would reignite a family spark that would lead Mark and Kim into opening Blue Sky Distillery. In the 1950’s, Mark’s grandfather owned and operated a West Virginia Bar that remains in the family today. In addition, Mark’s father owned a wine supply shop. Mark and Kim both enjoyed the art of wine making and brewing, so the visit to one of Ireland’s distilleries launched them on a path to distilling fine Virginia spirits.
Blue Sky Distillery prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients in all of its products. The distillery is one of the first in Virginia to be identified as “green” and was designed with an emphasis on sustainability. Finally, the distillery puts a focus on philanthropic activities impacting both the local Hampton Roads area and reaching out beyond into the world.
Blue Sky Distillery currently produces an array of products including Painted Pig Peanut Butter Whiskey, Painted Pig Smoked Bacon Maple Whiskey, Flying Dragon Spiced Rum, Dog Star Vodka, Blackbeard’s Point Rum, and Triple Deuce Wheat Whiskey.
For additional information, check out Blue Sky Distillery on the web!
Tasting Notes
Tasting Date/Vessel: October 23, 2023 – Neat in a Glencairn glass then with a couple drops of distilled water.
Nose
Christian: In the bottle, Triple Deuce Whiskey offers an unexpected aroma of sweet vanilla custard. Thoughts of vanilla pudding or store bought vanilla spice eggnog spring into my mind. The whiskey smells so sweet and enticing. In my Glencairn glass, the nose is sweet, although nowhere near as much as it was in the bottle. I’m getting notes of custard, vanilla, rubber eraser, and pink baseball card bubblegum. As the whiskey continues to rest in my glass, I begin to notice a slight hint of buttered rum. There is a hint of ethanol here which seems to take the form very similar to that of a permanent marker – take that for what you will, some people really like this smell and others not so much. Adding distilled water to this spirit adds a layer of sweetness to the nose. I am getting an experience similar to what I noticed from the bottle. Sweet vanilla custard and toasted sugar bring about a creme brûlée quality.
Mike: From the bottle, I am noticing soft hints of bubble gum, reminiscent of the hard, flat sticks from packs of Topps baseball cards of the 80s. In the glass, faint hints of gum continue then transition to dried rubber cement. A second pass yields mild aromas of butter rum, adding a layer of complexity similar to that of aged rum notes that carry a distinctive aroma akin to a rubber eraser, contributing to the unique and layered profile.
Mouth
Christian: The mouthfeel on this wheat whiskey is extremely soft and watery with very little to no coating on my tongue. As I begin to sip this pour, flavors of vanilla, butterscotch, and faux leather rush my palate. I find this to have a small mineral, chalk, or powder note to it. A very light essence of wood is detected but it is very light. On the palate, the distilled water takes an already soft and watery mouthfeel and exaggerates the feeling even more. Flavor wise, the drops of water seem to intensify the buttered rum and pink bubble gum notes of this whiskey.
Mike: This Triple Deuce Whiskey opens with a dry profile, marked by a vinyl-like quality that consumes the palate from the first sip. This distinctive attribute takes center stage, creating a unique initial experience. As the dryness unfolds, the sweet bubble gum aromas detected on the nose gradually resurface, revealing an unusual contrast. The playful bubble gum notes begin to intermingle with suggestions of soft vanilla custard, creating a blend of saccharine that develops on the palate.
Finish
Christian: Triple Deuce Whiskey has a super short dry finish that produces little to no noticeable burn. The softness typically associated with wheat whiskey is completely present here. As the flavors on my palate linger, I begin to notice little hints of faux leather, the predominant flavor, brown sugar, pink baseball bubblegum, and simple syrup. Finally, one last pop of wood develops on the palate. The distilled water really takes a tame finish and makes it much like drinking flavored syrup. Sugary sweet flavors accompany the punch of faux leather. You could sip on this for a while without remembering you had a whiskey in your hand, which, I assume would not end well.
Mike: This whiskey offers a smooth and effortless finish, but a lingering note of fake leather, reminiscent of “pleather,” adds a unique and unexpected element. This peculiar flavor provides a memorable contrast to the overall smoothness. Lingering on the palate are notes of butterscotch candies, offering an agreeable sweetness and a subtle yet mild bitterness that adds complexity.
Our Rating
Final Thoughts
Christian: I find this offering by Blue Sky Distillery to be rather interesting. The flavor profiles, specifically the baseball card bubble gum and faux leather, are aromas I tend to find in 100% wheat whiskey. As expected with the nature of wheat, this is a very smooth, soft, approachable pour. The flavors are muted and the finish is almost non-existent. Much of that, I assume, is due to the very short time spent in a used oak barrel – something that isn’t traditional in nature. I almost get an Irish Whiskey experience out of this pour and maybe that is what the distillery was going for here. In all honesty, I could sip on this and not think twice about it. But in the same breath, I could see myself growing weary of the soft delicate flavors at the same time. So I am going to rate this middle of the road – I can see times where this would taste great but I can also see times where I am not going to reach for it when other options are available.
Rating: 2.50 Rickhouses
Mike: The Triple Deuce Whiskey offers a unique drinking experience. The nose unveils soft bubble gum hints reminiscent of pink bubble gum sticks, evolving into aged rum notes with a unique aroma similar to a rubber eraser. The dry and vinyl-like palate introduces contrasting sweet bubble gum and subtle vanilla custard, creating a distinctive blend. The smooth finish surprises with a lingering “pleather” note, contrasting the overall smoothness, while butterscotch candies add agreeable sweetness, complemented by a subtle bitterness for a complex conclusion. Overall, I found this whiskey to drink more like a young barrel aged rum rather than a wheat whiskey.
Rating: 2.25 Rickhouses
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