It's been over a year since we introduced Forward/Slash to you all, despite their Rhapsody blend being one of my favorite craft releases of 2023.
Michael Buffa and Tim Bradstreet's interests in whiskey quickly evolved into an obsession... doesn't that sounds relatable? Michael founded the Orlando Whiskey Society to find more obsessed whiskey drinkers and Tim quickly focused his interest to what smaller independent distillers were creating utilizing their products into numerous bar programs. They both became champions for whiskey brands creating interesting whiskeys. From their base in Winter Park, FL, Forward/Slash is here with a new pair of blended rye and bourbons from a multitude of distilleries.
For their second Straight Bourbon release, Vanguard, they wanted to incorporate elements that they admired from modern craft distilleries and farmers. Individuals that lead the way in new distillation, farming, and aging techniques. There is no Kentucky Bourbon in this blend and very little rye used in the mashbills. Instead they focused on mashbills that incorporated more wheat and malted barley, giving way to a softer, sweeter bourbon whiskey with more cherry cola, baking spices, with a sweet long finish.
31% of the blend comes from Ragged Branch in Charlottesville, VA, consisting of 68% corn, 16% wheat, and 16% malted barley.
29% of the blend comes from Journeyman in Three Oaks, MI, consisting of 70% corn, 25% wheat, 5% malted rye.
25% of the blend comes from Boulder Spirits in Boulder, CO, consisting of 51% corn, 44% Scottish barley, and 5% rye.
15% of the blend comes from J. Henry & Sons in Dane, WI, which consists of 65% red corn, 13% wheat, 13% rye, and 9% malted barley.
The nose is classically sweet, a treat for a bourbon blend that doesn’t include whiskey from Kentucky nor Indiana. Brown sugar, salted caramel, yellow cake, and a plush, cherry truffle-like lasting sweetness.
The palate too gives a lot of beautiful and familiar bourbon flavors - rich cherry cola, heavy Demerara, and lovely deep oak. This is one of those pours that has it all - enough fruit to coat, lingering baking spices without being attacking, singed citrus peel, and a solid chocolate and oak structure to satisfy - all at 100 proof.
The finish is a lingering continuation of the palate notes - rich, satisfying, coating, and leaving you wanting another sip.
Their Thornhurst Rye is a delicious blend of whiskey and straight rye whiskeys. They scoured the country to find four producers who share their passion for this unique category. Their company was founded on the principle of creating and sharing whiskey with friends, so it felt fitting to name their first unfinished rye whiskey after two of their favorite customers: Thornton and Bathhurst.
41% of the blend comes from Journeyman in Three Oaks, MI, an organic whiskey consisting of 60% Rye and 40% Wheat.
30% of the blend comes from Dad's Hat in Bristol, PA, consisting of 85% rye, 15% malted barley, 5% malted rye.
22% of the blend comes from Breuckelen Distilling in Brooklyn, NY, consisting of 100% New York rye.
7% of the blend comes from Manifest Distilling in Jacksonville, FL, which has the same formula as journeyman at 60% organic rye and 40% organic wheat.
The nose is fun and funky, juicy and sweet. Unique to other ryes, we find notes ranging from creamy custard, to cantaloupe melon, baked raisin bread, and raw cookie dough.
The palate highlights that gentle, juicy melon-like note you sometimes find in Indiana ryes, then quickly transition to sweet pepper and herbals, but even some of the more plush touches from wheat being included in the mash bills.
The finish is long and creamy, definitely more fruity than spiced but not without a softer pepper continuing to linger along with a softer presence of charred oak.
If you are looking for a new entry into some great craft whiskey blends, you can't go wrong with these releases from Forward/Slash.
