Taconic distillery was founded in 2013 by Paul Coughlin and Gerald Valenti as Millbrook Distillery until the change to the present name in 2015, located in the Hudson Valley of New York. A farm to bottle operation, the grains and water are all sourced locally and the distillery has a whiskey-central focus. They are also active in the American Distilling Institute, the American Craft Spirits Association and the New York Distillers Guild. The regular Dutchess Private Reserve is a straight bourbon named after the county in New York the distillery is located in and approximately four years old. This Taconic Dutchess Private Reserve Cognac Cask was aged in new oak barrels for 3.5 years before being finished in ex-cognac casks from Remy Martin for a further six months.
Distillery: Taconic
Region: Foreign
Age: NAS
Strength: 45%
Price: $69.99
Maturation: ex-cognac casks
Mash bill: 70% corn, 25% rye and 5% barley
Location: Stanfordville, NY
Nose: Asparagus, raisin, molasses, orange, mint, corn
Palate: Spices, cinnamon candy, vanilla, toast, astringent
Finish: Licorice, sweet corn, oak
Comments:
Adam – Even after a few sessions, I’m not sure what to make of the Taconic Dutchess Private Reserve Cognac Cask. The influence of the cognac cask is welcome, a sweet embrace over a pretty benign base bourbon. I’d like to check out the regular version first to see where the line is between the sweetness of the corn and the cognac. The nose has a nice spread of different fruits from raisin to citrus, though the bourbon asserts itself in the palate with corn and spice. An astringent line rises from the palate into an oaky finish that I’m not super fond of but it’s not dominant enough to be distracting, just present. I find this more interesting than enjoyable, with a lot to dissect and examine but it is not one I’d look forward to sitting back and savoring.
Henry – The Taconic Dutchess Private Reserve Cognac Cask for me is a scotch drinkers’ bourbon. Candy sugar, baking spices, and vanilla on the nose. Rye influence continues on the palate, introducing more spice and a little heat. Cognac whispers loudest on the finish, with vanilla and toast balancing out the oak’s astringency. This is a bourbon for the scotch lovers, and as a scotch lover, I really enjoy it.
Ben – The cinnamon quality on the palate isn’t even Red Hots, it’s a cinnamon bear gummies. I’m glad we’re having it on a hot day, which is when I think bourbon tastes best.
This is a bourbon for the scotch lovers.
Bill – The Taconic Dutchess Private Reserve Cognac Cask has a lot of intentionality to it. This isn’t a mistake or an accident. It has been cultured this way on purpose. It was intended to happen. And I like the intent.
Evelyn – I was not overwhelmed by the bitter aspects. I liked it. It tasted like bourbon on a summer afternoon for me.
Sam – It felt like they were trying to do something but I don’t know if they got there. I don’t think I would seek it out. It felt like it finished bitter and I try to avoid that. It started off really nice and has some nice things going on but after it’s all good.
Kim – I get cinnamon and gentle heat with a hint of sweet orange.
