Five & 20 Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750mL)

Five & 20 Straight Bourbon Whiskey starts with soft caramel and vanilla aromas, followed by a touch of sweet corn. The producer’s palate notes emphasize dark caramel and smoky barrel flavors, with rye spice appearing afterward. It finishes dry and smoky, leaving a lingering corn note. The grain-and-barrel combination gives you a straightforward way to compare corn sweetness with the spice contributed by rye.

Try a small neat pour before adding water, so you can compare the corn and barrel notes at different strengths. An Old Fashioned is another option to test; start with modest sugar and adjust after tasting. Plain cornbread is a food pairing to explore, with an unpaired sip beside it for comparison.

How it’s made: Produced in New York, this bourbon uses 70% estate-grown and New York corn, 15% New York rye and 15% New York barley malt. It ages for twenty-four months and is bottled at 90 proof, or 45% ABV.