Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This velvety smooth, subtle and uncommonly rounded bourbon is bound to be an instant favorite with both newly minted bourbonites and seasoned bourbon lovers alike. Its high-rye four-grain mash bill—corn (65%), rye (22%), wheat and barley (percentages undisclosed)—is so finely balanced it hits La Bourbonessa’s sweet spot on the head. The presence of wheat in the mash bill lends an extra dose of luxe to the dominant notes of vanilla and banana and takes the edge off the spiciness from the high rye content. The bourbon, 80 proof, is aged a minimum of four years in charred virgin American oak. All in all, Brother’s Bond wins a prize for nuanced, elegant pleasure.

So, who are these brothers and what’s their bond? The two partners are actors Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder who played the “undead” Salvatore brothers on the long-running series, The Vampire Diaries. It was there they bonded over their mutual love of drinking…bourbon. Though it would be easy to dismiss Brother’s Bond as a celebrity gambit, this is no case of high profilers  slapping a snazzy label on a generic distillery house bourbon.

On the contrary, the partners have lavished time and passion into crafting this smooth and harmonious blend from whiskey distilled and aged by the renowned high-end distillery, MGP. They’ve also thought plenty about presentation, and Brother’s Bond looks as good as it tastes. The light amber whiskey comes in a traditionally shaped bottle modernized with a slightly flared bottom. The vintage-look label features the silhouetted brothers under a mighty tree bearing the four grains of the mash bill, but there’s nothing vintage about their commitment to sustainable agriculture and eco-responsibility. Indeed, they donate a portion of their proceeds to support farming practices that help to reverse climate change.

The bottle may harken back to old Americana but Wesley and Somerhalder are progressive and passionate about creating exceptional bourbon right now. There are plans in the works to roll out a 100 proof version. Guess who will be first in line to taste it?

 

By Barbara Chapman, La Bourbonessa