Mgp Chapter One: Out of the Shadows - 10 Years

Out of the Shadows is a 10-year-old bourbon from MGP, the Indiana distillery best known for supplying and producing whiskey behind many American labels. Here the distillery's own name is on the bottle, which is a draw for anyone who likes to taste the source rather than a rebrand of it. The label doesn't list a mash bill, proof or barrel details, so what follows is what a bourbon of this age and origin typically offers, not a measured profile of this particular bottle. Ten years in new charred American oak usually shows up as a deeper, more integrated style of bourbon than the younger bottles on the shelf. Expect the corn-driven sweetness of caramel, brown sugar and vanilla to sit alongside darker oak notes such as toasted wood, char and a little dry tannin. If the mash bill leans on rye, as many Indiana bourbons do, look for baking spice, black pepper or a touch of mint on the mid-palate. Bourbon of this age often finishes with lingering oak and spice instead of a quick, sweet fade. Try it neat first, and pour a small measure into a Glencairn glass. The tapered bowl concentrates the aroma, so you can pick out vanilla, oak and spice before you taste. Come back with a few drops of room-temperature water if the alcohol feels sharp on the nose; a little dilution tends to open up the sweeter, fruitier notes. A large ice cube in a rocks glass is a sensible second step. It chills the pour slowly and softens the spice without watering it down quickly. At this age the bourbon is better suited to spirit-forward cocktails than to heavily mixed drinks. An Old Fashioned made with a sugar cube, two dashes of Angostura bitters and an orange peel lets the oak and caramel come through. A Manhattan with sweet vermouth and a cherry shows off the spice. A Whiskey Sour will work, but the bourbon's depth is better used elsewhere. For a long drink, a Highball with cold soda water and a lemon twist keeps the bourbon in front without much sugar. Food-wise, expect it to suit smoked brisket, aged cheddar or dark chocolate.