DSR – NC – 029: CB Fisher’s Cheers to 8 Years Single Barrel Select Bourbon Whiskey
Company/Distillery: Greensboro Distilling Co./Fainting Goat Spirits, LLC
Location: Greensboro, NC
Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 30% Rye, and 10% Malted Barley
Age Statement: No Age Statement. 5+ years old.
Proof/ABV: 124.50 Proof/ 62.25% ABV
Color & Viscosity: In the bottle this C.B. Fisher’s Single Barrel Select bourbon presents a rich and inviting deep, old oak hue. Once poured into the glass, the color softens to a warm burnt umber. When tilted, a razor-thin, viscous line forms along the edge, immediately transforming into tiny, pinhead-sized droplets. These droplets gradually merge into a thick, slow-moving lip that clings to the glass, taking its time before beginning an unhurried descent down the side. The viscosity hints at a rich, full-bodied texture.
Bottle Label Information: $59.95 for a 750 ml bottle. Only available at the distillery gift shop.
Neck Label
C.B. Fisher’s Bourbon Whiskey
Artisanal Spirits | Family Owned
Fainting Goat Spirits
Front Label
CB Fisher’s
Handcrafted Small Batch
Bourbon Whiskey
Cheers to 8 Years Single Barrel Select 2024
Distilled and Bottled by Fainting Goat Spirits, Greensboro, NC
Back Label
C.B. Fisher led men to battle, gambled his life savings on a gold mine, turned swampland into playgrounds, and left a mark everywhere he went. As a result; streets, neighborhoods, and city parks bear his name. The legend of his adventures gathered strangers together. Strangers became friends, friends became family, and for that we created our whiskey in his honor. Our grain to glass Bourbon is handcrafted from North Carolina corn and aged in new American white oak barrels. Once matured, our barrels are hand selected by our Master Distiller to share with the world. Marrying notes of toasted pecans, ripe honeycrisp apples, brown butter, and warm fall mulling spices, our Bourbon hopes to bring you together over your own tall tales and cocktails.
History made by hand by people who give a damn.
Distilled and bottled by Fainting Goat Spirits, Greensboro, NC
Neck Tie
To celebrate our 8th anniversary, we are proud to release our first ever single barrel bourbon. Our head distillery meticulously tasted countless barrels and chose barrel #206 at cask strength as the single barrel to share with the world. With notes of butterscotch, toasted almonds, & an early morning gas station cow tales before a fishing trip, this expression is created to be shared with only close friends and family. Coming in at the highest proof we have ever released, this Bourbon is made to be shipped and sacred or throw it in some diet wild cherry Pepsi. I don’t care, enjoy it the way you want to. Thank you so much for your continued support. Cheers!
Distillery Background
Greensboro Distilling Co./Fainting Goat Spirits
Greensboro Distilling Co./Fainting Goat Spirits was founded as a family-owned, small business in December 2015, by the husband and wife team of Bill Norman and Shelley Johnson Norman. Mr. Norman, who serves as Master Distiller, previously trained at The Culinary Institute of America in French cuisine where he mastered the ability to hone his palate. Mrs. Norman brings her passion for entrepreneurship and business management to Greensboro Distilling Co. The couple is joined by their children Andrew Norman, who serves as Master Blender, and Lesly Norman Hobbs, who brings a wealth of business experience, rounding out the Greensboro Distilling Co. management team.
The idea to distill spirits was hatched when Mr. Norman went on a tour of a distillery in Seattle, Washington while on vacation. It was on this trip that Mr. Norman quickly realized that his expertise in the kitchen would make him well-suited to own and run a distillery. Upon returning home, Mr. Norman reached out to his son, Andrew, who had taken a recent interest in home brewing and liquor infusions. The father and son duo would then begin to experiment and practice distilling before finally taking the plunge and launching the distillery. The dream became reality in December 2015 when they received their Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) authorization.
Greensboro Distilling Co. is a grain-to-glass distillery, using fresh North Carolina corn, wheat, and rye grown on a farm in nearby Marshville, North Carolina. On a typical day at the distillery one can find the Normans grinding and mashing their own grains for the fermentation process. Their hands-on approach doesn’t stop there, as the Normans continue to be active in the process through distillation with their Artisan Still Design still, aging in new American Oak barrels, and bottling their products.
Greensboro Distilling Co./Fainting Goat Spirits currently produces Tiny Cat Small Batch Vodka, CB Fisher’s American Single Malt Whiskey, Emulsion New American Gin, CB Fisher’s Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Whiskey, and CB Fisher’s Straight Rye Whiskey!
Additional information regarding the distillery and its products can be found on their website.
Tasting Notes
Tasting Date/Vessel: September 22, 2024 – Neat in a Glencarin glass. Then with a few drops of distilled water.
Nose
Christian: In my Glencarin glass, this 2024 Cheers to 8 Years Single Barrel Select Bourbon Whiskey offers rich aromatics. Notes of toasted brown sugar, freshly baked pie crust, and sweet corn syrup leap from the glass. A gentle swirl allows a wisp of ethanol to give way to copious amounts of rich butterscotch. Wow! Adding a drop of distilled water to this pour wakes up an entire level of sweetness. Pecan Pie, fresh crust, sweet dark corn syrup, and toasted pecans all in the nose. The water also brings forward a nice floral component to this pour.
Mike: From the bottle, this whiskey opens with delicate floral notes fused with the earthy richness of cured tobacco leaves. These aromas are soon complemented by the sweet, warming aroma of dark brown sugar, which gradually softens into creamy notes of buttercream icing. From the glass, the fragrance deepens, offering fresh honeysuckle blossoms laced with hints of new leather. As it breathes, the floral sweetness transitions into softer brown sugar notes. The overall bouquet is intensely sweet, balanced by subtle dry undertones.
Mouth
Christian: The mouth feel of this pour is full-bodied and viscous. The first sip announces with authority that this is a barrel proof pour! A sweetness is noticeable on the tip of the tongue. Warm brown sugar, oatmeal, and a pat of butter come to mind. A punch of rye grain and baking spices join a taste of raisins and dark honey as I continue to imbibe. The distilled water tamps down the authority this whiskey commanded at barrel strength. The addition of water makes this super sweet on the palate. Dark honey, leather, cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, and toffee all jump off of my palate. As I continue to sip, additional notes of pipe tobacco are noticed.
Mike: Bold and assertive from the very first sip, this bourbon delivers an intense experience right off the bat. Heavy, rugged notes of leather dominate the opening, followed swiftly by a sharp, fiery burst of cinnamon spice—reminiscent of chewing several sticks of Big Red gum at once. As my palate acclimates to the initial boldness, a second sip reveals a softer, more layered profile. Sweet notes of brown sugar and honey gradually emerge, lingering mid-palate, adding warmth and balance to the overall intensity. As I continue to sip on this offering, a soft leather note persists on the palate.
Finish
Christian: This bourbon whiskey by Fainting Goat Spirits offers a medium to long finish that sits nicely in the mid-chest and warms like cool coal embers. I get a slight smokiness in this finish. Loads of leather, sweet syrup, pepper, almonds, and oak barrel char remain on the palate long after the spirit has been enjoyed. The distilled water reduces the finish length, amps up a bit of dryness, while not reducing the beautifully warm cinder in the chest. Butterscotch, oak barrel char, and leather all remain deep into the finish. A surprising little note of melon, like honeydew, sneaks in late.
Mike: This C.B. Fisher’s single barrel bourbon delivers a medium finish that lingers with warmth in the mid-chest. A gentle scratchiness teases the back of the throat before dissipating, making way for a surprisingly smooth sipping experience given its 124 proof. The palate is enhanced with lingering notes of soft cinnamon and leather, creating a well-rounded profile. Overall, this bourbon offers a refined yet bold whiskey experience that invites another sip.
Our Rating
4.000/5.0 Rickhouses – “Make it a double, please!”
Final Thoughts
Christian: Bravo, Andrew! I really do enjoy this 1st offering of Fainting Goat Spirits C.B. Fisher’s Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Select at Barrel Proof. What a great way to celebrate 8 years of distilling history! I love the versatility of this bourbon. It is very good when sipped neat, as intended by the Master Distiller. A comparable wintry sweetness erupts when water is added. Finally, although I don’t necessarily recommend it, I imagine it would hold up nicely in an Old Fashioned–not so sure about the Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, sorry Andrew!! Haha. Regardless, this is a strong North Carolina Bourbon whiskey that deserves your attention! I thank Fainting Goat Spirits for making quality products at a fair price – making them more attainable by a larger mass of whiskey lovers. I eagerly await what will be released as a special when they’ve been distilling 15 years! For now, I urge you to give this offering a swallow! Cheers!
Rating: 4.00 Rickhouses
Mike: C.B. Fisher’s Single Barrel Select bourbon is a bold expression that delivers a richness of flavor in every sip. Whether enjoyed neat or with a splash of water to further elevate its complexity, this bourbon offers a versatile drinking experience that caters to a variety of preferences. Priced at $59.95, it aligns well with offerings from larger distillers, and I would confidently place it alongside similar single barrel bourbons from Kentucky. This is yet another testament to the excellence of small craft distilleries, proving that they can produce high-quality spirits at a more than fair price point. Kudos to Andrew and Bill for their dedication to craftsmanship—cheers to 8 Years and many more successful batches to come!
Rating: 4.00 Rickhouses
Gallery
