Green River Distillery was founded by J.W. McCulloch in 1885 which makes it the 10th oldest distillery licensed in Kentucky which is referenced on the bottles today with DSP-KY-10. In 1907, they would become the most advertised whiskey in the world. In 1913, it would be named the official whiskey of the U.S. Marine Hospital for 18 years because of its high-quality. In 1915, the company launched the advertising campaign, “The Whiskey Without A Headache” due to its high quality. In 1918, at the height of its reign, a mysterious fire reduced the distillery empire to ashes and destroyed more than 40,000 barrels of whiskey within three hours. And in 1933, the distillery is rebuilt and the brand is sold off to another company. After Prohibition, no medical claims can be made with alcohol so the slogan is changed to “The Whiskey Without Regrets.” Finally in 1955 the brand would cease to exist.
That is until 2014 when construction would begin at the original distillery to bring it back up to speed and in 2016 whiskey would be produced again with the first bottles of bourbon hitting the shelves in 2022 when it was also purchased by Bardstown Bourbon Company.
This is a far cry from my mind which would pass the bottles in the store and go, hmmm, Green River sounds like the name for a serial killer. Eventually on a trip to my go to liquor store in Massachusetts I saw the Full Proof on the shelf and with me being a fan of high proof whiskey I decided to grab a bottle. After all I am a serial killer of bourbon bottles.
Bourbon Review: Green River Full Proof
ABV: 58.65% (117.3Proof)
Age: NAS
Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
Distillery: Green River Distilling Company
Location: Owensboro, KY (USA)
The Nose: For a bourbon coming in at over 117 proof the aroma from the glass is sweet consisting of green apples, caramel and a touch of cinnamon providing a nice hint of spice. Letting the glass sit for a bit (about 10 minutes if you’re keeping score at home) a second pull of aromas sees increased vanilla and chocolate covered cherries with a subtle leather.
The Taste: Our initial sip is remarkably smooth and balanced a lot going on in the form of caramel, charred oak, brown sugar and a subtle amount of stone fruits. Subsequent sips see caramel continue with vanilla, honey and even more brown sugar than on the initial sip.
The Finish: Only a slight amount of heat that doesn’t linger to long but still lets you know you are drinking a full proof pour. The high rye content is noticeable on the long finish but before we get there this is a lasting amount of stone fruits and charred oak along the way. By the time we finish our pour the subtle heat takes on the form of a peppermint pinwheel.
Conclusion: At the time of this review the bottle coming in at $49.99 makes it an absolute steal and must have for you high proof bourbon drinkers. For those that are scared of the added heat this bottle offers so much complexity, 117.3 proof becomes an afterthought. I don’t know if you can call a $50 bottle a value bourbon but I’m going to go ahead and say this one of the best values in the full/barrel proof market. This a bottle you should not pass on. It’s richness, smooth finish and rich flavors make it one of the better bourbons we’ve come across and so far it is relatively easy to get.
Score: 96
Price: $49.99
