About 13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey
13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey is one of the several notable products from the Thirteenth Colony Distillery in my home town of Americus, Georgia. This bourbon has a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, and is aged for a minimum of four years. It is bottled at 95 proof.
The nose of this bourbon features aromas of cherry, roasted nuts, caramel, rich vanilla, oak, and light maple, with a hint of grassiness. On the palate, it presents flavors of sweet corn, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, faint anise, and pecan, with a finish that is characterized by hearty pecan, brown sugar, oak, and spice. I also detected a hint of malt as the flavor slowly faded, not surprising owing to the higher malt ratio in the mash bill.
What Others Have Said
Other reviewers have generally found it to be a solid, well-rounded bourbon. It hits classic bourbon notes and has a nutty undertone that is consistent throughout its profile. Some reviewers mentioned that it could benefit from additional aging and higher proof to enhance its depth and complexity, and I tend to agree. Despite this, it is well-balanced and enjoyable, making it a good daily sipper at an affordable price.
Closing Thoughts
This bourbon is a part of Thirteenth Colony’s growing reputation, especially known for their annual Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey release, which I have yet to try but hope to in the near future. The distillery emphasizes transparency and quality, ensuring that their products do not contain additives, coloring, or flavorings.
When compared to my favorite bourbon, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, 13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a higher corn and malt ratio than Bulleit, making it slightly sweeter, with a smoother mouth feel than Bulleit. Overall, both are good sippers, and both play well with various mixers and liqueurs to make delicious cocktails. Watch for more Old Fashioned takes using 13th Colony’s whiskey here in the future!
13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey vs. Bulleit Bourbon
Here is a comparison of the mash bills for Bulleit Bourbon and 13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey:
Mash Bills:
- Bulleit Bourbon:
- Corn: 68%
- Rye: 28%
- Malted Barley: 4%
- 13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey:
- Corn: 70%
- Rye: 21%
- Malted Barley: 9%
Comparison:
Corn Content:
- Bulleit Bourbon: 68%
- 13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 70%
Both bourbons have a similar corn content, with 13th Colony having slightly more corn, which could result in a slightly sweeter profile compared to Bulleit.
Rye Content:
- Bulleit Bourbon: 28%
- 13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 21%
Bulleit Bourbon has a significantly higher rye content, contributing to a spicier and more robust flavor. 13th Colony has less rye, so it will have a milder spice profile compared to Bulleit.
Malted Barley Content:
- Bulleit Bourbon: 4%
- 13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 9%
13th Colony has more than double the malted barley content compared to Bulleit, which can contribute to a richer, maltier flavor and a smoother mouthfeel.
Flavor Profile Implications:
- Bulleit Bourbon: Known for its high rye content, Bulleit Bourbon has a bold, spicy character with robust flavors and a slightly lower sweetness due to the lower corn content.
- 13th Colony Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey: With a higher corn content and moderate rye, this bourbon will be slightly sweeter and less spicy than Bulleit. The increased malted barley content adds a richer and smoother texture to the whiskey.
