Bonus Post - Mini-Review - Joseph Magnus Bourbon

Welcome to the second mini review. This one is Joseph Magnus Bourbon. I was given two ounces by contributor of the site, Ashwin!

'Joseph Magnus Bourbon is a marriage of straight bourbon whiskey aged in white oak and finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximénez and Cognac casks'

Manufacturer: Jos. A. Magnus & Co (Washington D.C.)

Age: Unknown

Mash Bill: Unknown

Alcohol: 50%

Tasting Notes (from manufacturer): Rich and deep notes of vanilla, citrus, dark chocolate, brown sugar and dark stone fruits deliver with a lingering, warm finish

Who is this for?: Collectors and individuals wanting to try new bourbons

Review: For this review, I'm not going to score because I don't have enough of the product to do a proper test, but I do want to provide some overall impressions.

This is the first time I've heard of Joseph Magnus. For those out of the know like myself, this is a new distillery created from an old distillery. Their website says established in 1892 and re-established in 2015.

On the nose, I'm getting a flowery and citrus notes with a hint of butterscotch. In terms of the taste, the initial impression is a bit strong, especially compared to other bourbons we've tried at 50% alcohol. This is most likely due to the cognac finishing. I didn't pick up any overly distinct flavors other than the cognac. It's got a bitter, almost medicinal taste. 

In terms of the finish, the description from the manufacturer is spot on. It's fairly long and fairly warm. I think it burns a bit more than I would prefer. 

Intangibles: Color/Appearance

This comes with a very dark inviting color, most likely from the Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximénez and Cognac casks. As for the bottle, it has a really cool art deco look.

Availability

I didn't know this brand existed until I was given some to try so I don't have a great idea on how available this bourbon is throughout Ohio. I looked up the price with the state and it listed as active and comes in at $85.99 + tax. 

Overall Impressions

If you are a cognac fan who also likes bourbon or vice versa, this could be your horse. In the glass, it looks amazing with a rich dark caramel color. In terms of the drink, I found it a bit on the strong side with a finish that was longer than I would have liked. I could see those who love sipping their bourbon being attracted to Joseph Magnus. Hopefully, we'll be able to track down a full bottle and do a proper review in the future.

Note: This review was done by Mark. The bourbon was given as a gift by friend of the site, Ashwin. This review was done, in beautiful, Columbus, OH