McLaughlin 3799 Bourbon Review

McLaughlin Distillery
3799 Bourbon Whiskey
90 Proof
SRP: $69.99
Review

Please enjoy our McLaughlin 3799 Bourbon Whiskey Review!

Background

The McLaughlin Distillery, which opened in 2016, is a craft distillery in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. They make over 40 spirits on site, hand labeling and bottling each bottle. The distillery makes everything from cream liqueurs to flavored moonshines to bourbon and a variety of other whiskeys, all in small batches.

The Specifics

The name of McLaughlin 3799 Bourbon comes from the distillery’s address, which is 3799 Blackburn Rd.

Mash bill: 100% corn
Aging: minimum of 5 years
Barrels: 10 gallon northern white oak casks, char #4
Proof: 90

Tasting Notes – McLaughlin 3799 Bourbon Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Dry spicy oak, mildly sweet, dark caramel, light smoke; occasional cherry Kool-Aid and powdered sugar; alcohol vapor appropriate for the proof
👉🏻Taste: Fairly sweet, brown sugar simple syrup, spicy dry oak; roasted walnuts; tart citrus later on
👉🏻Finish: Capsaicin spice, fading brown sugar simple syrup; increasingly dry; tannins; fairly long

The nose of McLaughlin 3799 Bourbon has a noticeable, but not overpowering, dry spicy oakiness. That will be a theme throughout the sip. It’s mildly sweet, with dark caramel, light smoke and walnuts. After I have acclimated to the more dominant flavors, I noticed the occasional scent of cherry Kool-Aid as well as powdered sugar. The alcohol vapor is appropriate for the proof.

The taste is fairly sweet, from brown sugar simple syrup. Spicy dry oak persists, and fresh roasted walnuts gradually increase in conspicuity. Later on there is tart citrus which continues into the finish, where it is joined by an increasing capsaicin spice. The mouthfeel becomes increasingly dry, with mild tannins and barrel char later on. The finish is quite long, with the flavors gradually fading away. In the end, I am left with a pleasant warmth.

Matured In 10 Gallon Barrels

I tasted McLaughlin 3799 Bourbon before I read its details. I was fairly certain that it had been aged in small barrels from its character. However, I never would have guessed that it was aged for 5 years. Often, bourbons aged in small barrels can become quite tannic, harsh and over-oaked after that much time in a 10 gallon barrel. However, I am happy to report, that is not at all the case here. While the dry spicy oak from the barrel is definitely evident, it is not overpowering and is well balanced with the bourbon’s sweeter flavors, which are presumably in part due to it being made from 100% corn. Likewise, the smokiness, remains subtle, as well.

Conclusion

Overall, I am very much enjoying McLaughlin 3799 bourbon. If you enjoy a well-made small batch craft bourbon with noticeable, but not overpowering dry spicy oak, then you’ll want to give this bourbon a try. Have you had it? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our McLaughlin 3799 Bourbon Whiskey Review!

Note: This bottle was graciously provided by the brand for my review. Thank you for the opportunity to try your bourbon!

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