Jimmy Red Bottled in Bond 100% Corn Whiskey Review

Of all the grains corn can often been viewed as the most simplistic in terms of flavour production. Primarily its purpose in a mash bill is to provide a high starch content, starch means sugar after all. That’s why in the world of American whiskey production mash bills using corn generally have the addition of flavouring grains such as rye and wheat to add depth and spice to the finished distillate.

Fully matured whiskies that use a 100% corn mash bill are relatively rare, at least to this newby to the world of American whiskey production. I think to date the only other 100% corn whiskey I’ve come across is Mellow Corn and Balcones Baby Blue. I’m sure there are more out there and if anyone can make recommendations to try, please do.

This brings me to High Wire Distilling. Founded by Scott Blackwell and Anna Marshall, they champion regenerative farming techniques and the use of long forgotten grains in their distilling.

They use Jimmy Red corn, a corn that nearly died out entirely but for two cobs of grain left behind by a moonshiner on James Island, South Carolina. It was culinarily appreciated already by the time High Wire opened their doors in 2013 but they had the idea to use it for whiskey production. From near extinction to an annual production of 1.3 million pounds of grain this is indeed a success story for agricultural preservation.

Is the Jimmy Red corn a success story in relation to whiskey though? We’ll see.

Jimmy Red Bottled in Bond Batch 8

100% Jimmy Red Corn Mash Bill, at least 4 years old, 50% abv

This bottle would cost $80 normally but I was gifted this by Carolina native Matt Kelly otherwise known as Vaulted Barley on Instagram. 

Nose: Ethanol. Buttered popcorn, caramel and vanilla. Woody spice of cinnamon and clove along with mild mintiness. Bubblegum and grilled peaches. Hay and peanut brittle.

Water brings out chocolate, thyme and raspberry creamola foam.

Palate: The ethanol is again apparent and it’s grain forward. Corn sweetness, orange oil, vanilla and some white pepper heat. Cinnamon and milk chocolate – even a touch of tiramisu. Pomegranate juice and a tannic ending.

Water brings out fresh ginger, citrus zest and lots of oak.

Finish: Medium in length with alcohol heat, oak, menthol and peppery spice.

Score: 6 out of 10

Overall: A very unusual dram for me. At first I hated it….overly dry, overly spicy and not enjoyable. But time and oxidation has worked wonders for this whiskey. 

There is a depth of flavour hidden behind the oak and spice but you have to work for it so I don’t think I’d ever recommend this as a daily sipper. However, if you like bourbon that is corn heavy or corn spirits in general and want something a bit more unusual on your shelf to share with your friends and get some conversation going, this may be a bottle for you.

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