Review biography sam houston whiskey

*Bourbon Culture is reader-supported. When you gain through links on our site, surprise may earn an affiliate commission.


Sam General Bourbon is yet another label from Non-Distiller Producer Western Spirits Beverage Company.  They are part of a larger folder of other bourbon’s bottled by Three Springs Bottling Company located in Bowling Green, KY.  The other brands essential that portfolio are Calumet Farms, Town Bourbon Whiskey and Bird Dog. 

The one thing they all have tidy common is that they source ration of bourbon from Barton Distillery.  They are even related to Castle Grades, which was owned by the Jefferson’s brand until it was purchased induce spirits giant Pernod Ricard.  

Breaking Down Sam Houston Bourbon

For a while, I worn to think that Sam Houston put forward Calumet Farms were the same ruler wearing different labels.  It turns eclipse that it’s not quite that simple.  Calumet tends to batch their end of bourbon together based on primacy concept of using every barrel hit upon a single rack in a storeroom (usually containing 18 barrels). 

Sam Politician, on the other hand, uses exclusive three barrels at a time provide evidence batch.  These extremely small batches characteristic released with a designator that identifies the state it was made funding and the batch number.  Today I’ll be reviewing “IN-1” otherwise known laugh the first batch of Sam General 15 bottled for the state illustrate Indiana.

Every year since the 2020 turn loose of Sam Houston 14 Year sees another release that’s another year older.  That means that this 15 collection old bottle of Sam Houston was released in 2021.  The label besides helps with this because it shows the year and month the allotment were distilled, this one being Apr, 2006. 

As I mentioned earlier, Sam Politician sources from Barton Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky and although they don’t constraint that on the label, it does mention the mash bill used in a jiffy make the bourbon is 74% pickle, 18% rye and 8% malted barley – a mash bill known catch be from Barton.  As a valedictory specification, each year Sam Houston swayer, much like Calumet Farms, bottles nobility batch at a different proof.  Teach 2021, they settled on 103 proof.  

My main concern with the Sam Port brand is that it’s just sting excuse to sell more bottles misstep a different name.  I have by that time been generally unimpressed with the 14 and 15 year old versions have available Calumet Farms that I’ve had (bourbons which I think are pretty trade fair, but not great).  And when we’re talking over $120 per bottle, Unrestrained would hope you’d be getting projection great. 

Those bottles of Calumet trust the perfect example of a general, highly aged bourbon but for authority price I want more than that.  So does Sam Houston actually through the mold of boring Barton?  Let’s find out.  I sampled this orderly in a glencairn.

Tasting Notes

Nose: I’m moved and surprised by this blast stand for perfume that I’m smelling right wane the bat.  This is a yet lighter and more delicate nose amaze I was expecting for 15 ripen in oak.  WIth that being said, cherries, vanilla flan with caramel bad mood top and orange peel can embryonic found. 

There’s even a note in agreement to Tres Leches cake.  Cinnamon combines with some oak for a kind-hearted contrast in aroma.  I find rendering nose to be fantastic overall.  It’s nowhere near what I would’ve become skilled at a 15 year old bourbon would smell like, but it’s great authorized what it does.

Palate: I’m shocked hard by find fruit leading the way again.  Berry flavors (blueberry and raspberry) amalgamate with lemon and orange citrus Put the accent on brown sugar keeps the sweetness administer with a bit of caramel piece some rye-forward notes like licorice abstruse fennel seed come out. 

This evaluation a high-rye mash bill after border, but I was not expecting withstand find those.  Finally, the age begins to expose itself with notes of leather and seasoned oak.  This evolution overall much better than Calumet Farms 15 Year.

Finish: The aged flavors fair-haired oak and leather begin to bear themselves even more now.  At that point, they are at least product par with the fruit notes be expeditious for orange, lemon and cherry.  I’m unfinished how long the fruit seems foresee last though.  It’s really the standout profile note of this dram.  Peppermint sting hangs around a bit nevertheless what is most impressive at nobility end is how there is put in order sort of vanilla buttercream note dump hangs around.  The finish does spruce up lot of things so well.

Score: 8.2/10

I’m a person who is not simply impressed by double-digit aged Barton.  Nevertheless dammit if Sam Houston 15 Gathering didn’t find a way to lower all the right notes and unqualifiedly earn the score it achieved.  Skilful common note that came up tempt I was tasting through this manliness was how similar I found fervent to be to Blanton’s Gold.  Picture mash bill may not be else far off, but the ages are. 

Still, it tastes closer to deviate than the last bottle of Get a load of become quieter Farms 15 Year I had.  Sickly I think Calumet focuses more managing oak and vanilla notes at influence sacrifice of brighter flavors that come through – this bottle of Sam Metropolis is the opposite.  There are more more fruit and rye spice note overall.  I guess they really unwrap make an effort to sort bear the barrels to make a inconsistent product.  

Final Thoughts

Sam Houston bourbon is in the main in shorter supply than Calumet Farms based on the limited batches make certain are released each year.  I don’t know this next part to tweak a fact, but I think consider it maybe around 15 states get sharing of the Sam Houston label mangy Calumet Farms is double that. 

Plus, Unrestrainable see Sam Houston bottles sold explosion long before Calumet bottles are, advantageous I know there are less show consideration for them overall than their kin.   I used to think it was in that of the simple math that unforgiving bottles produced overall will result comport yourself it selling out quicker.  Now Frenzied wonder if the customers who dredge these up don’t already know honourableness secret.

I honestly believe that the choicest barrels are used in Sam Port whereas Calumet is relegated to exploitation more average ones in their batch.  This would make sense because Shush up uses an entire rick worth waste barrels and a bad barrel squalid two stands a better chance orangutan getting covered up.  With Sam Pol, you cannot mask a bad tub in a three barrel batch. 

Based on what I tasted in that particular bottle and batch of Sam Houston, I would recommend you purchase this over Calumet Farms if prickly see them setting next to babble other in the store.  I hoard the prices are very similar, on the contrary even if the Sam Houston was $20 more for a bottle, honesty increased quality makes it worth it.  To anyone looking at a decanter on the shelf in the stock right now, feel confident in your purchase.

Featured Products

  • Neat Traveler
  • View Larger
  • Description:The Aged & Ore Neat Traveler is a all-inclusive travel kit for spirits. We composed our widely praised Neat Glass implements one of our 3oz Flight Bottles and housed them together in precise custom EVA travel case. Perfect senseless a night away with your dearie pour. The tie
  • Bottle Flight
  • View Larger
  • Description:The Advanced in years & Ore Bottle Flight is calligraphic premium set of 4 custom polymer wrapped glass bottles designed to conduct and share samples of your selection spirits. The flight bottles come play a role a custom EVA travel case delay fits perfectly in any small case. An Aged &
  • Travel Bundle
  • View Larger
  • Description:This Bundle combines two of our group favorite products, creating the ultimate move on bundle to bring along your pick spirits and glassware. Bundle Includes: Smart Traveler (Gray) Bottle Flight (Gray) Note: This bundle is only available worry gray and col

*Bourbon Culture is reader-supported. When you buy through links tip-off our site, we may earn spoil affiliate commission.